Brighton Bears skipper Randy Duck expects to be back in action at the end of the month after undergoing a hernia operation.

Duck was due to have treatment this morning and said: "We will see how I feel after that.

"I should be out for the rest of January but if there is any way I will be back sooner I will do that."

Duck will hope to be back for away games at Milton Keynes and London Towers on successive nights at the turn of the month.

The captain took part in the warm-up at the national cup final on Sunday but, contrary to pre-game speculation, sat out the whole match, offering advice and encouragement from the bench.

He then stepped forward to lift the silverware after the ten-point defeat of Chester before directing the crowd's applause to his team mates.

Duck, who contributed 36 points to the key cup wins over Newcastle and London Towers in previous rounds, admits his colleagues have reacted well to his absence.

He said: "It's phenomenal. We overcame a lot.

"I've played pretty much every minute of every game and you would think losing that would hurt the team.

"Instead it looks like I'm going to have a tough time to get back in but I'm enjoying winning right now.

"This is great. They are playing with lot of desire and, when you get that with the talent they already have, it's hard to beat them."

Wilbur Johnson, who joins his team mates in a key league tussle at Thames Valley tomorrow (8pm), said: "Randy is probably the best point guard in the league but, when you get a setback like that, good players step up."

Bears ditched their normal selection of films or NBA action on the coach trip home from Birmingham to enjoy a video re-run of the final.

Coach Nick Nurse, who was relaxing yesterday after a hectic week, said: "That was fun, one of the really memorable moments."