There is no mistaking this Sunday is one of the biggest days in Streatham Redskins’ recent history.

The club face Slough Jets at Brixton Ice Arena in what will effectively be the first leg of a relegation play-off they cannot afford to lose.

Sunday’s vital 5-4 victory over MK Thunder brought Redskins two points behind Slough – who themselves beat Bristol Pitbulls on Saturday — and in with a chance of remaining in Ice Hockey League South One with two games remaining, both against Slough.

A victory by two goals or more on Sunday will mean a draw on April 8 will be enough for them to stay in the league and head coach Barry Spours is not understating the game’s importance.

“It is huge,” he said.

“One of the biggest games we have had in a long time.

“It has been a difficult season with the change of rink and the results have been disappointing but these two games are a chance to make amends for that.

“When I took over three years ago the team was about to fold and we said we would just keep fighting for survival and keep the team going.

“There is a big future now with the new rink being built but we are weathering the storm of that transition period, which would be difficult for any club to go through.

“And to get through it, it is important we keep our national one status.”

Redskins roared out of the blocks on Saturday as Norm Pinnington, Chris Rasmussen and Russ Stevens all scored in the first period and, although Thunder fought back, further strikes from Gennadi Yufit and Tomas Valko secured victory.

“It was a brilliant win as we knew we had to pick up those points to give us a chance of taking it into the last two games,” added Spours.

“It is a difficult thing to keep your head right when the pressure is on but the boys did that really well “It is good that is in our own hands now and we are excited about Sunday and I think we stand a good chance of beating them at home.

“And the better result we get on Sunday the easier it will be the following Sunday.”