Raiders defenceman Tom Relf is confident they will be ready for two more tough tests in the National League this weekend.

Table-topping MK Lightning visit Romford's Sapphire Ice & Leisure Centre on Friday (7.15pm), before Raiders head to Berkshire Bees on Sunday.

And Relf says Raiders want to show they can maintain their decent start to the campaign, after mixed fortunes last weekend.

"This weekend we know we have two tough games," he said.

"Friday at home will be a game where we have to be clinical and strong in our defensive end and we’ve been working hard on the basics this week.

"Sunday we can’t take lightly and can’t think it will be routine otherwise we will be punished.

"But I’m confident in the group and confident that we deserve to be where we are in the table and we’re ready to show it this weekend."

Raiders travelled north of the border to Solway on Saturday, having suffered double disappointment a weekend earlier against Leeds and Peterborough.

And they fell behind with barely two minutes played in Scotland, but got back on terms through debutant Zach Yokoyama - who had signed as injury cover for player-coach Adam Laishram.

Sharks struck twice in quick succession at the start of the middle session to go 3-1 up, but Andrew Shewfelt and Shaun Miller replied, before Brandon Ayliffe put Raiders ahead just past the midway mark.

The home side went into the second break 5-4 up, though, after scoring twice in two minutes and netted again early in the final period.

A third powerplay goal of the night allowed them to seal the points and Relf admitted it was a chance lost.

"Our game on Saturday in Solway was a missed opportunity," he added.

"We know it’s a long way to travel but we didn’t close out the game when we had the chance and ultimately they capitalised on what they were given."

Raiders fell behind in Telford the following night, but Shewfelt got them back on terms less than a minute later.

Yokoyama struck against his former club to put Raiders ahead on a powerplay, with Miller making it 3-1 soon after.

And although Tigers hit back, another powerplay goal from Ayliffe - his 99th for the club on a weekend when he moved above Shaun McFadyen into 21st place on the all-time scoring list with 228 points - made it 4-2 at the second break.

Tjay Anderson added a fifth, with Ethan James saving a penalty shot before Miller made it 6-2 on another Raiders powerplay.

And two late goals could not deny the visitors a vital victory, as Relf said: "Sunday we knew we had to come out and get the two points, as another weekend without any would not have been accepted.

"It was definitely a game we had good control, but there were definitely small things that we need to clean up."