THE Basingstoke Bison will look to continue their winning start to 2018, but face their biggest test yet with a double header against the Swindon Wildcats.

This is a massive weekend for both sides as the South One title race now hots up.

The Herd are second at the moment, level on points with leaders the Peterborough Phantoms and having played one game less.

Swindon are third in the standings six points behind the Bison with a game in hand.

The first of the double header weekend is on home ice on Saturday (6.30pm), with the return at the Link Centre on Sunday (6.15pm).

This is the first time these sides have clashed in the league this season, but the Cats had a purr-fect record in the four National Cup outings.

The last two being on December 26 and 27 and since then they have lost just once in eight outings.

Swindon were in action last night in the second leg of their Autumn Cup semi-final at Peterborough, with the winners set to meet the Bison or Hull in the final.

This week they announced their semi-final dates with the Bison being at home in the first leg on Friday January 26 (7.45pm) with the return is in Hull on Wednesday February 7 (7.30pm).

Looking ahead to the semi-final showdown Bison head coach Doug Sheppard said: “We know we will have to be at the top of game if we to progress to the final.”