Nick Nurse is closing in on reinforcements for his Brighton Bears squad.

The Bears coach has lined up two possible signings after guard Mike Brown received a Home Office document confirming the imminent arrival of his British passport.

That will release a place in the Bears squad for an overseas player who does not require a work permit.

The news comes at just the right time for coach Nurse ahead of the January 31 deadline for new signings.

It also creates fresh possibilities for Brown when his contract expires at the end of the season.

The Bears star said: "This opens up the chance of playing in Europe. I don't want to leave Brighton but it just depends on what they offer me next year."

Nurse has been confirmed as coach of the southern conference team in the BBL All-Star game at Newcastle on Sunday, January 20.

The Argus revealed on Saturday that the Bears coach was set to earn his sixth All-Star selection in seven years.

He has named Bears skipper Randy Duck and Milton Keynes player/coach Nigel Lloyd as his wild card selections.

Brighton stars Albert White and Sterling Davis had already qualified for the big occasion.

Nurse said: "This is a heck of a deal for Brighton Bears to have four representatives. It's a huge leap forward."

Bears return to work today looking to bounce back from Sunday's 113-94 defeat at Chester Jets.

The visitors were outplayed in all aspects of the game, shooting 41 per cent from the floor, 67 per cent from the foul line and losing the rebound count 57-43.

Nurse said: "We never believed we could win from the moment we left the locker room."

Worthing Thunder have been ordered to forget their two NBL defeats and home in on Trophy glory.

Thunder head to Sheffield on Sunday for the Trophy final against Teesside, the side who beat them in the league before Christmas.

Solent then won 94-86 in a fiery derby at the Leisure Centre last Saturday but Thunder coach Gary Smith said: "We have to blank this one out now.

"We can't mope around. Teesside are a much better team than Solent and we have to concentrate on the task ahead.

"At some stage we are going to go on a winning run of 20-odd games. All it takes is to win that one and that will start against Teesside on Sunday."

Thunder were below par offensively on Saturday and Smith arranged an extra training session last night to allow his men to work on their shooting.