The following day the Bees travel to Shropshire to face the new-look Telford Tigers in their first away game of the season.

It is an action packed festive season for the Bees with Basingstoke and Guildford visiting the Hive, either side of road trips to Sheffield and Swindon, as well as a return clash with Guildford.

In total there are three new teams in the league that the Bees haven’t welcomed to the Hive in years as the Wightlink Raiders, Chelmsford Chieftains and Invicta Dynamos join.

If Lukas Smital’s men make the play-offs, they will take place between Saturday, March 28 and Sunday, April 5.

The Bees end their 54-game season with a trip to Manchester on the Saturday before a home clash with Sheffield at the Hive the following day.

Before the league action gets underway, the Bees will face M4 rivals the Swindon Wildcats in a challenge series a week before the season commences.

The first leg will be in Wiltshere on Saturday, September 6 with the return at the Hive the following night with a 6pm face-off.

Match night tickets will be available from Friday, August 15 from the box office at the John Nike Leisuresport Complex, or by calling the ticket hotline on 01344 789000.