Oxford City Stars will need to bounce back when they host Milton Keynes Thunder at Oxpens Road on Sunday(5.30pm).

Stars suffered back-to-back defeats last weekend against Bracknell Hornets and Car-diff Devils, which seriously dented their title aspirations.

However, Milton Keynes have yet to win a league game this season, although Stars’ coach Darryl Morvan is wary of the challenge that awaits them.

He said: “It is very important to get back on track.

“Although Milton Keynes’s record is not good, there is a history of fiercely competitive games against them.

“They are a very physical team who like to play the body.”

Thunder have talented im-port Kristian Simo in their ranks. He featured for last year’s league winners Peter-borough.

And should Stars pierce the Milton Keynes defence, they face one of the best netminders in the league.

Morvan said: “Mark Woolfe is one of the best keepers around — on a par with our own James Skaife.”

In their games last weekend, Stars appeared to be missing the energy that they displayed in their demolition of Streatham Redskins two weeks earlier.

And Morvan is very aware of the need to get off to a good start.

He said: “We play our best hockey when we work at a high tempo, not giving our opponents time to settle.

“For some reason last week, the team were not able to produce that.

“Although they were very disappointed to have dropped points, we still have a long way to go.

“There is not a team in the league who are unbeaten this season.

“I think this shows the tremendous strength of the league.

“We have made some adjustments, primarily to our power-play game, and we will see effect these have.

“One thing I am confident of is that the players’ determination to get back to winning ways as soon as possible.

Face off at Oxpens Road is 6.15pm, with the doors opening at 5.30pm for fans to see the teams warming up.