Player-coach Kwan Browne insists Canterbury are capable of putting last year’s final disappointment behind them to win the Indoor Hockey 5s Championships.

The city club led at half-time in the Wembley final at the start of the year before going down 8-4 to East Grinstead who won their sixth consecutive title.

Canterbury’s men begin at St George’s Park, Burton, against Holcombe on Saturday. The 1.30pm game is followed by a clash with Reading at 5.30pm, with Sunday seeing them face Surbiton at 10am and Sevenoaks at 2pm.

Browne said: “Two years ago we finished top of the league, last year we reached the final. We are good enough to win it but there is no pressure on us.”

On the weekend of January 3/4, Canterbury take on Team Bath Buccaneers, Beeston, East Grinstead and Bowdon. The overall top four qualify for the Wembley finals on January 25.

Jen Wilson says Canterbury Ladies are targeting at least a place in the semi-finals as the Hockey 5s Indoor Championship get underway at Bromsgrove School this weekend.

The city club face East Grinstead in their opening game – all of which are 20 minutes each way – at 12.30pm with Reading to follow at 4.30pm.

On Sunday, they kick-off the action at 9am against Sutton Coldfield before facing Harleston Magpies at 2pm.

The second round of games are on January 3 and 4, again at Bromsgrove, when Canterbury will finish their campaign against Bowdon Hightown, the University of Birmingham, Slough and Clifton.

Player-coach Wilson said: “There are no easy games in this format, with a keeper and four outfielders it means squads do not have to be as deep and every team is competitive.

“Every team taking part wants to finish in the top-four but if we don’t make it, we won’t be all doom and gloom.

“We use it as an opportunity to keep our fitness ticking over and to rest some players who need a break.”

Susannah Townsend will miss the trip as she enjoyed a break after England duty in Argentina while Nikki Triggs, Lucy Barnes and keeper Helen Fagg are rested, leaving Aurora Mears and Becca Smith to contend for the No.1 spot.

After the semi-final stages – to be played at a neutral venue – the championship final will be held at Wembley on January 25.

Meanwhile, Susannah Townsend hailed the “valuable experience” of helping England finish fifth at the Champions Trophy in Argentina.

The Canterbury Ladies star set up Shona McCallin to score England’s goal in the 1-1 draw against China in the 5th/6th play-off in Mendoza, a game which England won on penalties.

England had finished bottom of their group with a draw against Germany and defeats against Australia and the hosts.

They lost 3-1 defeat to New Zealand in the quarter-finals but beat Japan 3-1 in the classification round on Saturday.