Tigers coach Tom Watkins is unconcerned about complacency creeping into his side’s preparations for this weekend’s play-off quarter-final meeting with Milton Keynes Lightning.
Telford beat the Lightning five times out of six during the regular English Premier League campaign, shutting them out twice at their home rink in Milton Keynes.
The two teams finished on equal points in the final standings, however, with Telford taking fourth place because of their better head-to-head record.
But Watkins has no worries about his side’s mental preparations for the two-legged encounter.
He said: “I would dread to think of there being any complacency during a play-off weekend, so that is a complete non-starter for me. All the guys will be at 100 per cent, ready to play.
“We know Milton Keynes are a very tough side, and it doesn’t matter what happened during the season. It’s all about the next two games, getting a good start and building period by period.
“It’s a time of year when everyone gets a little bit more excited to play and they know what’s on the line. It’s do or die, and you either move forward or you finish for the year.”
The winners of this weekend’s games will progress to the finals weekend in Coventry next month – the stage where last year, Telford were dumped out by Peterborough in the semi-finals.
Watkins added: “Hopefully, the guys who returned will remember the feeling of being finished. Although we had a great season last year, it ended on a negative because we didn’t manage to win the final prize.
“Ideally, that will give us the inspiration to do everything we can to win this series. As a player, you don’t get that many opportunities in your career to make a final four.”
A number of Telford’s players were given an extra day off from training on Tuesday, following a sequence of games that saw them play eight times in just 15 days at the end of the season.
“We won’t know about any injuries until we know and for them it will be a case making sure they’re able to compete at level that’s not going to harm the team,” Watkins said.
“I think the guys have been fatigued with the number of games over the last month, so they’ve had two days off. That isn’t normal, of course, but we’ll come back in ready and fresh on Wednesday.”
Saturday night’s away game against Milton Keynes Lightning starts at 7pm. On Sunday, the two teams face-off at 6pm, at Telford Ice Rink. For tickets to the home game on Sunday, go to www.tigershockeyuk.com.
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