Skipper Randy Duck has promised his old team no festive gifts as Brighton Bears chase their biggest scalp of the season so far.

Bears finish their home programme for 2001 in the way they started it, by tackling London Towers at the Triangle in the BBL Championship on Sunday (5pm).

Duck was in Towers' colours on an icy Friday night back in January and dominated proceedings with 25 points as the visitors, coached by current Bears chief Nick Nurse, won 93-78.

Bears have failed to reverse that result in two visits to Towers this season.

The 94-86 defeat at Crystal Palace four weeks ago was their only reverse in ten games and they will be confident of toppling the southern conference champions this time.

Duck admitted: "We've lost there twice in really bad ways. We have started badly and given them the ticket to beat us.

"These last few weeks we have really concentrated as a team trying to eradicate stuff like that.

"If we play on an even keel with someone for long enough we will find a way to win. The biggest thing going into the weekend is not to give them anything. They will have to work for it."

Bears were back at work yesterday afternoon having enjoyed three days off following their return from Edinburgh in the early hours of Christmas Eve.

They will be eager to maintain their title push against a Towers side who will go into the game on the back of a four-pointer with Thames Valley tomorrow night.

Neither of the Towers old boys are particularly concerned that they are playing against their old club.

Duck said: "It's professional sport. Players move all the time.

"Don't get me wrong, I want to win every game. Our unbeaten run is a pretty big deal.

"The main thing is we are all helping one another on the defensive end of things.

"When you have five guys playing one guy with the ball, it's hard for them to score."

Bears will have a clear idea of their chances of topping the conference after this tussle and next Sunday's trip to Chester and Nurse has bigger things to worry about than revenge over his old club.

He said: "We need to win this game because we are now in the southern conference championship race for real.

"These two games are the sort we need. We are rolling a bit at the moment."

Nurse is also keen to put on a good show for the Burgess Hill crowd.

Bears were thrashed at their second home by Thames Valley in September and only beat Milton Keynes on their last visit thanks to what is regarded even at BBL headquarters as the greatest comeback in the league's history.

The Brighton coach has moved to end speculation that Albert White is set to leave the club in mid-season to pursue his NBA dream. Nurse said: "I have no knowledge of that at all.

"He will be in the NBA summer camp. Maybe that's what people have got confused with."