Cardiff Fire are intent on earning back-to-back National League ice hockey wins this weekend.

Player-coach Chris Douglas and his team take on Basingstoke Buffalo away on Saturday before entertaining Swindon Wildcats in Cardiff Bay the next evening.

Buffalo and Wildcats are both below Fire in the NIHL Two South table – and the Cardiff team have had a big week of training.

Assistant coaches Phil Manny and Mark Smith have worked alongside Douglas in their quest to find a winning momentum.

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Fire travelled with only 15 players when they took on Solent Devils in Gosport last time out and two of those were net minders James Whiting and Douglas.

The Cardiff skaters battled against a Solent team who had four extra skaters than their visitors. Fire were trailing 1-0 after the first period – a powerplay effort by Alex Trendall inside the first five minutes – but they tired and could not cope with the extra manpower.

Douglas hopes to have players returning to action against Buffalo and Wildcats, helping Fire to step up their push for a play-offs slot.

The addition of former Guildford player Cameron Basnett, a 22-year-old defenceman, has been a plus for Fire, while Swedish D-man Viktor Langseth is another key player.

The highly experienced Phil Manny was Fire captain during their 8-0 defeat against Solent in the absence of Alan Armour, who will add depth to the team when he returns.

Ross Wilkinson was missing at Solent after taking a bang to the head against Klee Valley Lions which led to him being checked over in hospital, but should be able to return soon.

Cardiff Fire take on Basingstoke Buffalo away this Saturday (6.16pm) before Swindon Wildcats visit the Viola Arena in Cardiff Bay on Sunday (6pm). 

Match stats: 

Solent: Alexander Trendall 2+1,Richard Facey 1+3,  Mitchell Murray 1+1, Jamie Fitzpatrick 1+1, Andrew Campbell 1+1, Alex Murray 1+1, Elliot Lewis 1+0, Christian Cole 0+1, Alexander Cole 0+1, Daniel Lackay 0+1, Mason Wild 0+1, Ben James Lock 0+1, 

Shots on goal: Solent 51, Fire 32.

Penalties in minutes: Solent 54, Fire 48.

Period scores: 1-0; 5-0 (6-0), 2-0 (8-0).

Referee: Timothy Pickett and Andrew Jarvie.

English Ice Hockey Association

National League Division Two South

			P	W	OW	OL	L	PIM	F	A	Pts
1		Chelmsford Chieftains	11	10	0	0	1	320	92	23	20
2		Oxford City Stars	9	8	0	0	1	122	68	21	16
3		Slough Jets	10	7	1	0	2	183	83	35	16
4		Bracknell Hornets	8	6	0	1	1	222	61	30	13
5		Solent Devils	8	6	0	0	2	216	60	22	12
6		Bristol Pitbulls	10	4	0	2	4	174	39	44	10
7		Raiders Junior S2	8	4	1	0	3	293	44	33	10
8		Guildford	8	4	0	1	3	162	29	25	9
9		Peterborough Phantoms	9	2	2	0	5	149	46	41	8
10		Cardiff Fire	9	3	1	0	5	316	37	51	8
11		Haringey Huskies	10	3	0	0	7	465	43	56	6
12		Invicta	9	2	0	1	6	114	29	51	5
13		Basingstoke Buffalo	5	2	0	0	3	104	16	31	4
14		Swindon Wildcats 2	8	0	0	0	8	108	10	76	0
15		Lee Valley Lions	10	0	0	0	10	179	14	132	0

Great Britain under-20 head coach Slava Koulikov has named his squad for January’s World Championship Division Two Group A in Tallinn.

GB meet hosts Estonia plus Korea, Lithuania, Romania and Spain between January 13 and January 19 at the Tondiraba Ice Hall.

Great Britain under-20:

Netminders: Will Kerlin (OHA), Jordan McLaughlin (Solway Sharks)

Defence: Bradley Bowering (Peterborough), Ed Bradley (CIHA), Reece Cochrane (Fife Flyers), Jordan Griffin (Sheffield Steelers), Joe Hazeldine (Telford/Nottingham Panthers), Cameron Pound (Kingston Voyageurs), Ben Solder (OHA).

Forwards: Mason Biddulph (Islanders), Kieran Brown (Sheffield Steelers/Blackburn Hawks), Jordan Buesa (Fife Flyers), Tyler Cooper (Shattuck St Mary’s), Harry Gulliver (Ogden Mustangs), Mac Howlett (Glasgow Clan), Jordan Kelsall (Dundee Stars), Liam Kirk (Peterboro Petes), Richard Krogh (Guildford Flames), Cade Neilson (Yarmouth Mariners), Morgan Pizzo-Clarke (Syracuse Stars), Chad Smith (Fife Flyers), Josh Waller (Guildford Flames).