FORWARD Chris Jones believes Swindon Wildcats are hitting top form when it matters most as they look to continue their challenge for three trophies this season.

Aaron Nell’s side booked safe passage into the semi-finals of the NIHL Cup over the weekend after roaring to a dominant 14-2 aggregate triumph over London Raiders in the last eight.

Swindon have little time to regroup before turning their attentions to another knockout match on Thursday night when they resume their Autumn Trophy semi-final against Peterborough Phantoms.

The Cats will travel to Planet Ice knowing that any sort of victory will be enough to see them through to the final after the two sides played out a 3-3 draw at the Link Centre in last week’s first leg.

Peterborough currently sit top of the NIHL South One league table, with the Cats nicely placed in third and boasting two games in hand on the leaders.

The back-to-back victories over Raiders at the weekend took Swindon’s form to eight wins from 11 matches since the pre-Christmas break and Welshman Jones hopes the team can maintain that good run and strengthen their push for honours.

“We have still got a lot to play for from now until the end of the season and it’s great that we are in all these competitions and doing well. All we can do is hope to keep that going,” said Jones, who joined the Cats from Cardiff Devils in the Elite League last summer.

“We have been in great form since the break and it’s good to have that level of confidence going into this stage of the season. We have got a lot of big games coming up so hopefully we can carry on this good form.

“Thursday night is going to be a really tough battle. We will go there with a gameplan and we are going to have to execute it if we want to succeed. Everyone is going to have to be on their game.

“Peterborough are a good side and the tie is really tight but we won’t worry about it, we will just do what we can do and see where the cards fall at the end.”

Jones has only recently returned to action after breaking his hand in Swindon’s 15-1 win at home to Cardiff Fire on December 9, sitting out the team’s first eight fixtures following the break.

However, he has hit the ground running since coming back to fitness and showed his prowess in front of goal with a hat-trick and three assists in the 8-0 home win over Raiders on Saturday.

“It has been nice to just be back out there playing again, to be honest,” said Jones.

“I have had two games now and I feel pretty good but it will definitely take a couple more weeks to get my hands, my feet and my brain all up to speed again but it is going well so far.

“Saturday was a good night. You don’t get those nights very often when you feel like everything you touch will turn out good. It was nice to feel that way and hopefully that can continue.”