Holcombe are in Barcelona for the Euro Hockey League and are “quietly confident” of success.

The Men’s English Premier Division leaders take on French side Racing Club de France today (Friday).

Win that game and Barry Middleton’s side will meet CA Montrogue or hosts Real Club de Polo on Saturday (4pm) in the last eight. Lose and it’s a ranking match on Sunday (noon).

Looking ahead to the opening game, Holcombe’s New Zealand international Harvey Phillips said: “The Euro Hockey League is a top competition where all the top clubs from Europe come together, so I don’t think it will be easy, but it should be exciting and a challenge.

“We got into this match quietly confident, we have had quite a good build-up following our first four league games, we are feeling confident.”

Holcombe men regained top spot in the Premier Division thanks to a 3-2 victory at Surbiton on Sunday.

Phil Roper scored twice, with fellow England international Nick Bandurak also on target.

Roper collected Phillips’ reverse pass to open the scoring but Gareth Furlong levelled with a drag flick from a short corner before half-time.

Bandurak restored the lead with his fifth goal of the season after Roper’s aerial ball into the circle evaded a defender.

Furlong scored another drag flick before the end of the third quarter, but Holcombe grabbed the winner five minutes from time with Roper deflecting Tom O’Keefe’s pass into the net after the hosts failed to clear their lines.

It was heartbreak for Holcombe women over the weekend as two late Surbiton goals turned their Division 1 South encounter on its head.

The visitors had led for much of the game having taken the lead midway through the second quarter - Emma Bandurak’s penalty corner finding its way through to make it two goals in two games for the defender.

Nick Bandurak’s side would have made it six points out of six had they held on following last weekend’s 2-1 victory over Southgate, but the hosts struck twice in the final six minutes to ensure the visitors left empty-handed.

First, Charlotte Calnan converted a penalty stroke past the again-impressive Tilly Woodhead after a Surbiton player was fouled in the circle as they were about to shoot, before Amie Hunt finished from close range just a minute later.

Holcs play their first home match of the season this Saturday (5pm) with Sevenoaks the visitors.