SWINDON Wildcats forward Toms Rutkis admitted it was important for the team to be under pressure last weekend as winning so often can cause players to lose focus.

The Link Centre outfit was down by two goals twice against Peterborough Phantoms last Saturday before storming back to win 8-5 and push their winning streak onto nine games.

A more straightforward 4-1 victory over Leeds Chiefs extended that run to 10 games ahead of a tough pair of games against Telford Tigers at the Link Centre and Phantoms at Planet Ice.

While Rutkis is in no way bored of winning consecutive games, the Latvian said it may have been helpful to be put under pressure in order to sharpen the Cats’ collective focus ahead of two important fixtures.

He said: “Lately, we’ve been winning all the time and you can almost get comfortable.

“We haven’t really been in a position where we’ve been losing games lately, so to be down two goals last weekend was interesting.

“It was good for our confidence that we showed we are able to come back from losing positions.”

Meanwhile, Aaron Nell’s men were handed a huge boost this week after import forward Tyler VanKleef was given the all clear to play by doctors.

Canadian VanKleef had been suffering with a blood clot on the back of one of his legs – an injury that could have spelt the end for his career – that caused him to miss all of Cats’ pre-season and the opening weeks of the new National League campaign.

Thankfully, the 27-year-old has made a full recovery and VanKleef is set to make his Wildcats debut against Sheffield Steeldogs at the Link Centre on November 23.

Nell said: “I’m delighted to have Tyler back, and very happy for him because it’s been a long three months for him.

“He will give us a real boost offensively and I’m really looking forward to seeing him in a Wildcats jersey next weekend.”