The 29-year-old has been a pivotal figure during the side’s recent change in fortunes, hitting five goals in the past three matches – all of which the Bees have won.

Bendik enjoyed successive two-goal salvos at the weekend, with the back-to-back braces helping Bracknell to Challenge Cup and EPIHL victories over Wightlink Raiders and Swindon Wildcats respectively.

The Slovak, though, is a defenceman by trade, so is more accustomed to preventing goals as opposed to netting them at the opposite end of the rink.

However, the player explained to the News how he has recently been ushered up the lines by Lukas Smital after the coach looked to fill the voids left in his attacking department following the recent departures of Chris Wiggins and Ryan Watt – and the move, so far, is paying dividends.

Bendik said: “I have to play forward now because we don’t have enough forwards at the moment, and maybe I was the best D-man for that position.

“I was lucky because this weekend, for me, there was four goals, so I am happy.

“It is good for me that I scored the goals at the weekend, so maybe that is why my confidence is high.” The versatile player, now in his third campaign at the Hive, appears to have made the switch naturally – and Bendik is more than willing to continue helping provide the team with an unlikely attacking arsenal for as long as necessary.

“I don’t know what it is (that is fuelling the scoring habit) but I want to help my team,” added the import.

“I have to play where Smits (Lukas Smital) wants me to, and I am only happy to do so. I don’t look at statistics. I said I want to help my team and it is good for me. I am happy and everyone is happy, so it is good.” Bendik went on to reveal how he is expecting to lead the line for Bees once again this weekend when they head to Buckinghamshire this Saturday for a crunch clash with MK Lightning (7pm).

Eight points currently separate the two sides at the wrong end of the standings, but a fourth consecutive win would move Bracknell to within touching distance of their rivals and significantly heat up the chase for the eighth and final play-off spot.

Bendik said: “Next weekend, 100 per cent I am going to play forward. MK is a big game for us. We have to win it because we can close the gap on them.

“Our confidence is now at a high level and I hope we can keep it up for the next game. Every game is now hot for us because we want to go to the play-offs, so we have to be trying to win every game. We’ve gained great confidence from the last three matches and we need to keep going.” Bees bring the weekend to a close with a rematch with Swindon at the Hive this Sunday (6pm f/o), a side beaten for only a second time in their last 14 games when suffering the 3-1 reverse in Bracknell last weekend.