HEAD coach Ryan Aldridge is convinced his Swindon Wildcats players will not suffer from over-confidence when they take to the ice this weekend for two crucial fixtures.

Fresh from a spectacular six-point weekend which saw them beat MK Lightning, Slough Jets and Sheffield Steeldogs on successive nights, Wildcats host Manchester Phoenix tomorrow as they look to record their seventh straight win at the Link Centre, before travelling to Peterborough Phantoms on Sunday.

Cats were dogged by inconsistency for much of the first half of the season but have found their feet in recent weeks, and having all-but secured seventh place in the league Aldridge is hopeful his players will not get too carried away.

“The wins last weekend have sent a really good atmosphere round the locker room and we want that continue, but I am convinced the players will not get cocky or over-confident,” he said.

“We have felt disappointment enough times this season and been through so much to know that we do not want to go back there again.

“We are all focused on winning all of our games between now and the end of the season, and that is what we are thinking about and we are working towards taking sixth place.”

The Wildcats locker room has been a relaxed place since their weekend exploits, with many of the players excused from Tuesday training in a bid to recover from three games in three nights.

But following the brief break Aldridge is expecting a tough weekend against play-off certainties Phoenix and the Phantoms who are battling it out for the final place in the post-season.

“Training was optional on Tuesday, and some of the guys chose to sit out and nurse a few knocks which they had, and some wanted to get on the ice,” he said.

“I felt like an old man on Sunday night and Monday morning, so I don’t want to think what some of the other lads felt like.

“We have a good record against Manchester this season, but they are flying high at the moment and will be a tough side to beat,” he said. “We are very proud of what we have achieved at the Link Centre and we want to keep that going and keep the fans entertained at the same time.

“Peterborough are a different kettle of fish, and we often struggle against the sides below us in the league, and their place is a difficult building to go to. It will not be the prettiest of games and we will have to grind out an away win.

“We are all working hard in defence and that is paying off for us at the moment, and Aaron (Nell) and Jonas (Hoog) are putting the puck in the net at will, so that is a real positive for us.”