BASINGSTOKE Bison player/coach Doug Sheppard admits that the 13-point gap between his side and the English Premier League leaders may already be too big to make up.

The Herd were hoping to challenge for the title, but they lag 13 points behind runaway leaders Telford Tigers at the halfway stage of the regular season.

Sheppard said: “To be honest, we are not thinking about winning the league right now. We just want to get back on track.

“Pulling back 13 points is not a realistic goal at the minute and we just want to play better. We’ve been doing that of late and just need to see where our hard work takes us.

“We are not where we want to be but there is a lot of hockey left in the season and we want to make a big push in the second half of the season.”

The Bison face a visit from the English Premier League’s in-form team on Sunday, when the Swindon Wildcats travel to the Basingstoke Arena (face-off 5.30pm).

The Wildcats have won their last seven games and beat Telford 5-4 last time out.

Swindon’s success is built around two formidable forward lines as they are the only team in the EPL to use four import forwards. Add Aaron Nell, one of the top British players, into the mix, and it is no surprise that they are doing so well.

“Swindon are probably in the best form of anyone in the league,” Sheppard added. “It will be a real test and we will need to be up to the challenge.

“We have beaten them twice so far this season, but past games will mean nothing come Sunday. You have to make sure you are up for the next game.”

Before they host Swindon, the Herd will travel to Ryde on the Isle of Wight as they complete their English Challenge Cup campaign with a game against Wightlink Raiders on Saturday (face-off 6pm).

For their trip across the Solent, the Herd will add a number of Buffalo players as they look to end the campaign with a victory.