MEDWAY'S ice hockey side Dynamos face two tough tests this weekend in the final games of the Findus British National League Challenge Cup group stages, with Romford Raiders out for revenge and Slough Jets trying to secure a place in the cup finals weekend.

Last weekend the Jets beat Romford Raiders home and away and Basingstoke Bison had back to back wins against the Dynamos keeping the two FBNL each on seven points, with the Jets just ahead on goal difference.

So this is a crucial weekend and although the Dynamos cannot get to the finals they will be concentrating on being the best English National Premier League side in Group 4 and warming up for the league season ahead.

On Saturday they travel to Romford to try and do the double on their EPNL colleagues. Romford have lost all four of their cup games but claim they were totally unprepared when they lost 3-2 at the Ice Bowl in the opening game. They say they have now developed a team understanding and expect to beat the Dynamos on home ice.

But Dynamos player coach Andy Hannah has other ideas. He said: "I cannot see how we will not win at Romford considering we had only trained twice before the first match and they had been training for two months. I think that is a good guideline. We were probably less prepared for the match than they were but we still beat them basically because we have a much better team."

With two weekend's of action gone and the Jets and Bison already having played a tense 3-3 tie the winners of their next meeting on Saturday should go through as both teams are expected to triumph over their ENPL opposition on Sunday.

But the Dynamos will be hoping to ruin the Jet's party as they came so close to doing to the Bison last Sunday. Looking back on the Bison's wins coach Charlie Colon knows how hard it will be for the Jets to get a result at the Ice Bowl. He said: "We should have scored more goals but they made it difficult for us with their bump and grind tactics, especially in their own rink."

And on the Jets website the club warns its fans that although their team inflicted a crushing 7-1 defeat on the Dynamos at home in the opening weekend an away game in Medway is never easy. They said: "The atmosphere is always hostile for the away team and the Dynamos have proved, against Basingstoke, that on their day they are capable of competing against FBNL opposition."

Hannah said: "It is right the Jets do not underestimate us because we were unlucky to lose at home against Basingstoke and have proved we are one of the best teams in lower league British ice hockey.

"We are hoping Mikko Skinnari passes a late fitness test and can join the team. There are no other injury concerns, everyone else is good to go, and we are looking to make it a very good weekend for the Dynamos with two wins."

BLOB: Entrance to Sunday's game at the Ice Bowl, face off 5-15pm, cost £7 for adults, £4 for children under 16 or a family ticket (two adults, two children) costs £20.