WILDCATS coach Ryan Aldridge has urged his players to put in two big displays this weekend to avoid the need to push the panic button.

The Link Centre side currently sit second bottom of the English Premier League having lost their last two matches, while aside from their superb victory over Guildford last Wednesday they have not tasted victory since October 6.

Wildcats welcome the only side below them in the table, Telford Tigers, to their rink tomorrow night before travelling to Peterborough on Sunday, and Aldridge knows his injury-ravaged side are badly in need of points.

“We are going back to basics and we have to come together as a group and we need to get people fit,” he said. “This weekend is the biggest weekend of the season for us, and we need to perform because if we don’t then the panic button might get hit.

“We have to re-group, and a few people will get some things pointed out to them this week they may not like, but that is hockey and that is the way it goes.

“We may be playing two sides down there, but the league is so tight right now you really can’t take any game for granted, and we need to be at our best for sure.”

Netminder Dean Skinns has had to be in super form in recent weeks in order to keep the Cats in a number of games, and while Aldridge was quick to praise his keeper, he warned the rest of the players they need to offer him better protection.

“Skinns has been superb for us recently and put in some great performances,” he said.

“He had a tough weekend last week because he got hit hard twice on the Saturday and then took one in the head on Sunday, so to still perform the way he did was outstanding.

“He needs more protection, though, because we are letting them in front of the net far too many times, and that is not acceptable.”

Aldridge is hopeful Shane Moore and Michal Kapicka could return, although Matias Perrkio is likely to be out for at least two more weeks.