AARON Nell says the Swindon Wildcats roster are playing for their places as they prepare to kick-off their pre-season programme this weekend.

The Cats face Manchester Phoenix in a challenge match at the Link Centre on Saturday before the return fixture at Deeside Ice Rink – Phoenix’s new home in north Wales – 24 hours later.

New player/coach Stevie Lyle has already given some indication of what he feels his strongest line-ups will be in the 2015/16 season but, with nine new faces having arrived at the Link Centre over the summer, nothing is set in stone.

Home town boy Nell believes spots will be up for grabs as the Cats build towards the start of the new Elite League season on September 12.

“Stevie has talked about the lines he wants but of course that can change,” said Nell.

“With a lot of new people coming in you don’t know who is going to gel with who so it’s about getting the right combinations.

“Stevie has brought in a lot of depth so if people are not pulling their weight there will be somebody else waiting to come in and take their place.

“We feel like we have the best team we have had in a long time. It’s all very new but we’re excited about what can happen this season.”

With so many new arrivals to bed in, Nell admits there may be plenty of rustiness on show when the Cats take to the ice on Saturday.

However, he hopes the cobwebs will be blown out quickly as Swindon bid for a successful season.

“I’m sure it won’t be the greatest spectacle in the world but it will just be good to get back out there and Manchester are a good side so it’ll be good to test ourselves against them,” said 25-year-old Nell.

“I think we need to get a couple of matches under our belt before we can assess what we can achieve this year, but I know Stevie has got high expectations for all of us.

“We can’t have a slow start like we have done in previous years, we need to make sure we are up to speed for that first league game.”

The new-look Cats are set to meet for their first practice of pre-season tomorrow and Nell is looking forward to seeing what the new recruits have to offer.

“The season is getting very close. The people I have talked to are excited to start and it’s about getting everyone together now and settling in,” he said.

“We haven’t had our first practice yet, that’s on Thursday. Change is good, last year we didn’t have many. It’s important to keep freshening things up.

“The two new imports are going to be very exciting to watch. Miroslav (Zalesak) is here already and he seems like a great guy. He will bring a lot to the team and I am sure he is looking forward to the new challenge in England.

“And I’m sure Sami (Ryhanen) will be a great addition as well.”