THE BASINGSTOKE Bison stampede is in full swing after four straight wins put the Herd right on the tail of English Premier League top two Guildford and Manchester.

The Bison are just one point behind their rivals and will look to keep the pressure on as they seek a fourth consecutive four-point weekend.

Arch rivals Bracknell Bees will visit the Basingstoke Arena on Saturday, before the Herd head to Coventry to face Milton Keynes Lightning.

Bison player/coach Doug Sheppard is delighted with the way his side are playing at the moment, having beaten both Manchester and Guildford in recent weeks.

The Canadian forward said: “We are doing all the little things right as a team, and it is nice to see the hard work of the guys being rewarded with goals.

“Now it is matter of making sure we continue to play this way. Every weekend is tough.”

A bumper crowd is expected for another derby day battle as the Basingstoke Bison lock horns with the visiting Bracknell Bees on Saturday night (face-off 6.30pm).

The Herd have already beaten their Berkshire rivals twice this season, and will be looking to extend their current winning streak to five games.

Last weekend, the Bison collected their third four-point weekend on the trot.

Meanwhile, the Bees suffered two big defeats, losing 7-0 at home to Guildford and then being beaten 6-0 in Peterborough.

However, the previous weekend, Bracknell took three points off title challengers Manchester, and they will look to recapture this form as they head to Basingstoke.

The Herd will be minus forward Andy Melachrino for Saturday’s game, as he has to sit out one game for a match penalty in Telford.

This means forwards Danny Ingoldsby, Cameron Wynn and Stuart Mogg will get the chance to fill in and, on recent performances, they will not disappoint.

Looking ahead to the derby clash, Bison player/coach Doug Sheppard said: “They will be desperate coming into our building after last weekend, but with so many ex-Bison players in their line-up, we know they will be up for beating us.

“It is a shame Andy (Melachrino) is out of the line-up, but we have three guys who can step up.”

On Sunday night, Melachrino will return for the trip to Coventry to face the Milton Keynes Lightning (5.15pm).

The Herd beat MK twice over a double-header weekend back in September, but the Lightning have been in good form in recent weeks, with seven wins from their last nine.

Hoping his side can strike against the Lightning again, Bison boss Sheppard said: “They play a very solid defensive game. So they will not make it easy for us.”

Visit basingstokegazette.co.uk/sport for live updates from the Basingstoke Arena on Saturday.