Recent weeks have seen the Tigers beat the Steeldogs and Swindon Wildcats, while also narrowly missing out on a pair of victories over English Premier League pacesetters Slough Jets.

This weekend will pit Telford against a Bracknell side who are likely to be their chief rivals for a play-off spot, with Sheffield no doubt aiming for revenge after that defeat in Yorkshire just a few weeks ago.

Watkins believes his squad, which is one of the youngest in the league, is capable of springing a surprise in every game.

He said: “All the teams we have beaten are in the top five and on our day, if we stick to our systems, we have a chance to win our games.

“That is the difference between this year’s side and last year. We
have the chance to win every game. It won’t happen every game, but in most games we go into the third period with a chance and that is because we are playing good hockey.”

This weekend’s opponents should, on paper, provide two very different challenges for Telford, with Sheffield maintaining a consistent presence in the top three of the standings.

Bracknell, by contrast, have struggled to threaten the leading sides, but Watkins is taking nothing for granted.

He added: “Bracknell are one of those teams we battled against last season and had a good record against, but not Sheffield.

“We have won our one game against Sheffield this season, but it is hard to say anything about Bracknell so far.”

Watkins also remains unconcerned about Telford’s three penalty-shot victories this season – a situation which gives the winners two points, but also hands the losing side a point.

“I’m not fussy how we win,” he said.

“If at the end of the season you are playing the teams in and around you, then you want to win in normal time, but any coach would take the two points right now.”