Oxford City Stars coach Darryl Morvan is confident his players can ret-urn to form when they face Milton Keynes Thunder for the second time in a week tomorrow.

After being held to a 3-3 draw against Thunder last weekend, Stars know that victory is essential to get their English National League Division 1 title bid back on track after a disappointing sequence of results.

Last weekend’s draw, ag-ainst a Thunder side who were bottom of the table having gained only one point, was a big let-down for Stars, who have appeared to lack energy in their recent games.

Morvan is struggling to put his finger on the reason why, but says his players are well aware of the need to get back to winning ways.

He said: “The players are very frustrated at the points we have dropped over the last three games.

“It’s important not to allow this frustration to get the better of us. We need to get back to playing the hockey we know we are capable of.

“It would be very easy for negativity to set in, but that will not help our cause.

“I’ve made my feelings known to the team, and I have every confidence that we can return to the form we showed at the start of the season which had put us top of the table.”

Morvan added: “We will make a couple of changes to lines this week, but I think to a large extent, last weekend was a case of the puck not falling for us after we worked well to create the chances.”

Milton Keynes have traditionally been strong on their home rink, which, by virtue of it being Olympic standard, is larger that Oxford’s.

Morvan said: “We know it will be a tough fixture at Milton Keynes, and they will have been encouraged by the result last weekend.

“The large rink suits our team with the skating ability we have, and perhaps it is a good thing that people are starting to dismiss our ability to stay the pace for the season.

“But I would say, if they underestimate us, it will be a mistake.”

Stars are without Mike Hargreaves due to work commitments, so Dax Hedges, a product of Oxford’s junior programme, is called up.

With tough games against Cardiff Devils and Bracknell Hornets on the horizon, a result against Thunder could be the shot in the arm Stars need.