WAGGA hockey product Dylan Martin insists NSW Pride's unbeaten record won't add any pressure on the team before Saturday's Hockey One semi final against Melbourne in Sydney.
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The Pride won all six games and finished with a goal difference of 27 to stamp themselves as the team to beat in the competition's inaugural season.
Midfielder Martin, 21, missed some Pride games due to Australian under-21 commitments at the Sultan of Johor Cup but has slotted back in for their last two regular season clashes in Perth and Brisbane.
"I think some people have that mentality, that we're undefeated and the pressure is on, but for us it's a good thing," Martin said.
"Momentum is about continued performance, and every game we want to get better."
Although NSW hammered Melbourne 7-1 last month, Martin said they have the attacking arsenal to cause damage and they won't be taking them lightly.
"They're a pretty good side. They have a lot of young guns, a couple of resident Kookaburras and some older heads," he said.
"Generally the Victorian teams have done really well in the AHL (Australian Hockey League) the last couple of years."
Martin said the advent of a weekly competition, as opposed to the carnival format of the AHL which was played over a few days, had helped improve the quality.
"The quality's good. We've had a few blowout wins but there's definitely no easy games," he said.
"You get a week's preparation to get everything right for the team you're playing. You get to watch video and have a real solid preparation."
The semi gets underway at 1pm at Sydney Olympic Park Hockey Centre, and will be streamed live on Kayo.
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