SWINDON Wildcats’ play-off campaign may only be one game old, but star forward Jonas Höög says that his team cannot afford to lose to Hull Pirates – home or away.

Following Wednesday’s 5-1 drubbing at Milton Keynes Lightning, Cats know that they already have an uphill battle to make finals weekend in Coventry on April 8-9.

However, far from feeling sorry for themselves, Höög and co believe that they have to at least claim four wins from the remaining five matches to progress.

And the Swede says that the Link Centre side must target Hull to secure four points.

“We have win against Hull twice,” Höög said.

“We are trying to win all five of our remaining games, but the home games are massive, we are trying to get one or two (wins) on the road.

“We also have to win against Basingstoke once or twice and maybe against Milton Keynes.

“It is still early in the group but we have to win on Saturday – that is the focus.”

Although satisfied with the opening 20 minutes at Planet Ice on Wednesday night, the 30-year-old says that there aren’t too many positive that they can take from the Lightning match.

One good thing Höög feels is that the change in format for this year’s play-offs means that there is still hope as they have five games to rescue their hopes instead of just one.

“That is a good thing this year (compared to last season), this is behind us now,” he said.

“We have to look forward to Saturday, Sunday and next Wednesday.

“If it been last year it would have been a bit harder.

“We had some periods in the game (against Lightning that) were really good.

“In the first period, we played well, but we need to regroup and go again on Saturday.

“They (Lightning) are a good team, but we didn’t give them much (to do).

“In the first period we played good and they played good, but after we weren’t good and they were good - that is what I think.

“They are a good team but we can do better.

“(On) Saturday we have to go all in, it is must win.

“We are looking forward. It will be good for us playing at home, it will be a good game for us.”

FOLLOW ICE HOCKEY LIVE WITH MATTHEW DAVIES FROM TONIGHT'S PLAY-OFF CLASH WITH HULL AT THE LINK CENTRE AND TOMORROW'S TRIP TO BASINGSTOKE, BOTH AT SWINDONADVERTISER.CO.UK/SPORT