LUKAS Smital has explained it will take time for his new-look Slough Jets to reach their full potential this season.

Slough are aiming at the play-offs in the National Ice Hockey League, but Smital has warned it is hard to deliver results so early in the season.

The Jets player-head coach told the Observer: “We have a new team and a big squad this season with a lot of youth, so it will take a little time.

“I’m positive it’s going to come for us but we just need a little more time to settle in.

“It’s more about the mental side of our game than physical at the moment. We will focus on being competitive for 60 minutes.

“It wasn’t their last weekend and lapses in concentration cost us, but it has been there in flashes.

“It’s all in our heads and very hard to deliver results this early in the season, but we will look at the positives and are all raring to go.

“Once we’ve trained our mindset to compete for 60 minutes we will be a tough team to beat.”

Smital added: “Only four teams will make the play-offs this season, which I think is the most ridiculous decision in British ice hockey, but we will still try to reach them.

"The play-offs will be our aim but we can't look too far ahead, I never work with long-term targets, and we will take it game by game."

Slough make the journey to early league leaders Chelmsford Chieftains on Sunday (6.30pm), and Smital believes The Jets can win.

He said: "Chelmsford have started strong and just beaten Guildford, but that doesn't mean we can't beat them.

"We're capable of beating anyone in this league but sometimes you just need that little bit of luck.

"We're hoping for a strong performance and drive towards the goals we set."

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