OXFORD City Stars coach Richie Hargreaves is confident that his side have the beating of Bracknell Hornets in the first leg of the play-off quarter-final at Oxpens tomorrow (6.15 pm).

Games between the teams have been close this year with Bracknell having the slight edge.

But Hargreaves believes that, with the team back to full strength for the first time in several weeks, his players can sting Hornets.

The Stars combination of youth, experience, speed and strength should make them a match for anybody so long as they maintain concentration and stick to their game plan.

Confidence is high after an unbeaten run this month that included victory over divisional champions Invicta Dynamos.

The away leg is next Saturday with the winners progressing through to play-offs final weekend at the Coventry Skydome on April 17-18.

Expectations are high that the Stars can progress through this tie to the Southern final where they would be likely to meet Invicta again.

Stars will be sporting their colourful new play-off shirts, which include an Oxford Mail logo, for the first time.

They are hoping to continue wearing them for the full four matches they need to win to get their first ever national championship.

Tomorrow’s match will feature an appearance by the Oxford Freestylers, the local skaters who have been appearing on Dancing on Ice and will be featuring on that show's forthcoming national tour.

They will be performing in the interval between the second and third periods.

This is the only chance people will get to see them perform in Oxford this year.