STEVIE Lyle hopes a break from the ice will ensure he is in the best shape possible to help Swindon Wildcats mount a successful assault on the end-of-season play-offs.

The veteran netminder has sat out the Cats’ last two English Premier League fixtures and is not expected to return for this weekend’s matches at home to Peterborough Phantoms and away at Basingstoke Bison.

Lyle admitted the injury had been troubling him for several weeks and with Aaron Nell’s side unlikely to secure a top-four seeding for the play-offs, he hopes to recuperate fully before the team begin their battle for the season’s final piece of silverware at the end of the month.

“I’ve just picked up a slight groin injury. It was the Saturday in Hull (February 27) where it started and then I played the Sunday in Sheffield and last Saturday at home against Guildford,” said 36-year-old Lyle.

“It just seemed to be getting a bit sorer as I was playing on it.

“I spoke to Aaron and I think our position in the league is not really going to change that much, if at all, so I came to conclusion that it’s maybe better just resting it for the next game or two and getting myself ready for the play-off run.

“We kind of knew before Christmas that we were not in the league run-in and out of the cup, so you’re mind goes straight to that last trophy of the season, which is the play-off final.

“Everyone wants to win it and I’m sure the other nine teams in the league are thinking the same way but it’s about getting ourselves going before the play-offs now.”

Jordan Hedley has filled in between the pipes during Lyle’s absence and the 75-cap Great Britain keeper has been impressed with how the youngster has fared.

“Jordan is still learning but before he came here, I said he is going to get lots of ice time,” said Lyle.

“We need to bring goalies through and he is the perfect example. He’s a good goalie, he’s young, he’s hungry and he wants to play. He has proven that he can play in this league.”

Matt Selby and Callum Buglass joined Lyle on the sidelines for Wednesday night’s 3-2 win at home to Milton Keynes, while Cats player-coach Nell and Sam Bullas had previously sat out last Sunday’s agonising 5-4 loss at Peterborough alongside Lyle and Selby.

After putting in two heroic performances despite being short of numbers, Lyle believes the Cats will be a match for anyone come the play-offs.

“I think five or six of us were out against Peterborough but the boys played unbelievable, I think it was one of the best performances I’ve seen from the Wildcats,” added Lyle.

“Everybody turned up and it was a great game to watch.

“It just goes to show, we have got a good team here and come play-off time I’d be surprised if any team was looking forward to playing the Wildcats.”