AARON Nell says his side cannot afford to get caught in the traps if they are to live up to their lofty ambitions in NIHL South One this season.

Following the disbandment of the English Premier League at the end of the 2016-17 campaign, Swindon were one of four clubs to move down to the NIHL alongside Peterborough Phantoms, Basingstoke Bison and Bracknell Bees.

The Cats are therefore expected to be among the front-runners for honours once the new season gets under way next month and player-coach Nell knows those hopes could well be hampered if they are forced to play catch-up.

“The guys are champing at the bit for the season to get going. I have talked to all the players and everyone can’t wait to get started,” said Link Centre chief Nell.

“It’s been a long summer with everything that has gone on behind the scenes and we just want to get on the ice now and the players are looking forward to having that added pressure of the expectation of being higher up the league.

“When you have that higher expectation, it’s important to start well and that’s why we have put in the extra week of pre-season to make sure we are ready.”

Swindon begin their league campaign at home to Milton Keynes Thunder on Saturday, September 16 before making the trip to Gillingham 24 hours later to take on Invicta Dynamos.

However, the Cats will take to the ice for the first time a fortnight before that weekend as they begin a four-fixture pre-season programme on September 2 when Bracknell Bees visit the Link Centre.

Pre-season training will fully kick into gear just before that match and Nell says preparation will be paramount if his side are to taste success this season.

“We don’t start properly until right before the start of the season but the players have been on the ice and the younger guys who are on two-way contracts in the Elite League have started already,” said Nell.

“A lot of the younger guys are going to be two or three weeks ahead of everyone else and that is great. They will be able to get a fast start.

“Now the fixtures are out it will come around very quickly.

“We will have three or four practices before that first pre-season game and we have just got to make sure we are ready for those first league games on September 16 and 17.”