Basketball: Duck back to aid Bears

Brighton Bears step up the chase on the BBL Championship leaders, Sheffield Sharks, this weekend with the playmaker Randy Duck back in their line-up for the first time in a month following a hernia operation.

The Bears are away to Essex Leopards tonight then at home to Birmingham Bullets tomorrow as they try to close the eight-point gap on the Sharks. Duck's backcourt partner Ralph Blalock is also returning to fitness and the Bears coach, Nick Nurse, said: "Ralph is not quite as good as we expected, but he hit some big shots last weekend."

The Bears forward Emiko Etete is out for the rest of the season with a shoulder injury while Sharks will be without Justin Phoenix against Leopards tonight. He needed 15 stitches after ripping the webbing between his forefinger and thumb last weekend when his hand caught the net.