Slough have won three of their five league meetings with Bracknell

Slough Jets' Steve Moria says his side go into their play-off quarter-final with Bracknell Bees as the underdogs.

With one league weekend remaining, the Berkshire rivals are guaranteed to each occupy either fourth or fifth place.

That means the pair will face each other in the play-offs in April, but Jets player-coach Moria told BBC Sport Bracknell "will go in as favourites".

"They are playing extremely well," said Moria, "whereas we have been struggling for confidence and morale recently."

The Canadian forward added: "We have got to pull ourselves together.

"If we play as we have been doing then it will be difficult to win, but if we play as I know we can, then we have a great chance."

Ice hockey players and fans generally consider the play-off trophy to mean more than the league title, which has already been won by the Peterborough Phantoms.

Slough are the defending play-off champions, but have endured a difficult season both on and off the ice.

Bracknell have recently seen a marked improvement in on-ice performances, but that has been tempered by the news last week that the current owners will be unable to sustain the team beyond the end of the season.

Ice hockey teams have often found economic survival in Britain to be a challenge, and the current financial climate has seen new sources of sponsorship and funding dry up.

One silver lining for Moria will be the knowledge that he has already defended one trophy this season.

Moria was handed the Premier League's player of the season award by British ice hockey writers on Monday, his second in a row.

"It's a great honour to receive this award," he said.

"At this stage of the season, with our confidence low, this is a boost for me. It's nice to know people have confidence in my abilities."

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