SWINDON Wildcats player-coach Stevie Lyle expects his team to be challenging for trophies this season having put together his first ever roster.

Having taken the reins from Ryan Aldridge at the end of last term, Lyle has had the summer to formulate his squad and will find out how well he has done when they first take to the ice against Manchester Phoenix on Saturday in a pre-season friendly.

With Finnish centre Sami Ryhanen and former NHL winger Miroslav Zalesak joining skipper Jan Kostal and Polish forward Tomasz Malasinski, Lyle believes he has the best imports in the league to support a well balanced side full of young stars.

“Right now it has been pretty easy. I have had to sign a team and it has not been my money,” joked Lyle, who picked up Zalesak from the airport this week.

“I am very excited and I am more than happy with the team we have and I expect us to be challenging for every trophy.

“If we are not then there is something wrong, but I am very confident that we will be.

“I know I have the four best imports in the league and a great pack.

“Myself and Aaron (Nell), I’d like to think, are up there with the best in the league.

“Everyone else that I have signed has played international hockey, whether it is u18s or u20s.

“Just speaking to the guys, everyone wants to prove their place on the Swindon Wildcats roster this year.

“You sign a team and then you just wait until a season starts, so this time next week I will know a lot more regarding my team.”

Lyle will be on the sidelines for the Wildcats first two warm-up games with Manchester Phoenix this weekend as he looks to run an eye on his new roster.

The 35-year-old sees last year’s runaway champions Telford Tigers as the biggest threat again this season alongside Baskingstoke Bison and Milton Keynes Lightning, who will be under the management of new head coach and a familiar face, Pete Russell.

Despite the other teams improving this term, Lyle is positive about his side’s chances.

“I think you have to be confident,” he added.

“If you have a confident coach, who believes you can win every game then that gives the players the belief going forwards.

“Obviously we are going to get beat this year, but as long as we work hard we are going to be in with a shout.

“Milton Keynes, Basingstoke and Telford are the teams to beat.

“Every time we face them I am not going to go into them with a defensive mode.

“I am going to put our cards on the table and go head to head to see who are the best.”