SWINDON Wildcats import Mark Smith says that the team cannot let the importance of today’s trip to Basingstoke Bison overwhelm them.

The Link Centre side head to Hampshire for an English Premier League and League Cup clash with the Cats knowing a win would book their place in the semi-finals.

However, the Canadian D-man says that the team have to treat this match as they would any other.

“I don’t know the history of Swindon going through in the cup but any time you can play for silverware, it’s huge,” Smith said.

“It’s why you play the game, to win trophies.

“We have got to realise it is just a game, it’s just hockey. We’ve got to go out and play our game and not get too over anxious about anything.

“We’ll play the game we know we can and hopefully we can get those two points.”

Cats go to Basingstoke looking to bounce back from their penalty shoot-out defeat at Milton Keynes Lighting last Sunday.

However, 33-year-old Smith, who has played in the Elite League with Edinburgh Capitals, Cardiff Devils and Coventry Blaze, was pleased with the spirit Aaron Nell’s men showed.

“It’s massive (to show that fight),” he said.

“That’s the thing with our team, we have an older group and with having that, it is about making sure the guys don’t get too high and don’t get too low.

“There were some tough results but we stuck to our guns, we worked through it and the biggest thing was sticking together as a unit.”

Despite that loss in Milton Keynes, Smith feels that the Cats can take plenty of positives from the game as they look to bounce back firstly against Basingstoke before heading to Telford Tigers tomorrow.

“It’s disappointing not getting that extra point but the boys battled hard and you can’t really ask for much more from the guys,” he said.

“It was a coin toss for who picked up that extra point and unfortunately it wasn’t us.

“We stuck to our guns and did all the little things and worked for each other and that is what we need to continue to do.

“We’re going to take all the positives and we just have to carry this momentum into next weekend because it is a massive game against Basingstoke."