AARON Nell believes that if his Swindon Wildcats side can replicate their Christmas performances in the second half of the season, there is every chance that they can have a successful run in the end of season play-offs.

On Boxing Day, Nell’s men made the short trip to Basingstoke and put in a battling display before being edged out 3-2 in Hampshire.

However, 24 hours later and back on their own ice, the Cats were dishing out some festive cheer to their supporters as they ran out 3-1 winners over the same opposition thanks to the heroics of veteran netminder Stevie Lyle and a hat-trick from Tomasz Malasinski.

That success left the Link Centre side seventh in the English Premier League standings, with the play-offs being divided into two groups of four playing in a round-robin format.

And while the Cats, who see out the year with a visit from Guildford Flames on Saturday, have endured a mixed bag of results in the first part of the campaign, supporters will know that it is in the second half of the season that their team begin to flourish.

“Looking back, we have had a tough schedule recently but in our last four games, we have been good and we have been taking steps forward every game,” said Nell, who is out for the season due a dislocated shoulder.

“There is no point in being lucky and winning at this time of the year, we are building towards the play-offs and we have got to put in big performances.

“That (Tuesday) was the first time since Guildford two months ago (Cats won 7-6 at the Link Centre on October 22) when we have played really well at home.

“When we are at home, most times we have got to play like that and if we do that, we are going to be very successful.

“The play-offs now are six games and they are round-robin and if we play like this weekend in those six games, we are going to be successful and that’s what we are building towards.”