Fans favourites Michael Brown and Wilbur Johnson have been warned they are fighting for their places in Brighton Bears' double weekend test.

Last season's stand out duo have been pitched into a two-from-three selection conundrum by the arrival of Irish-American Rich Aigner.

Aigner, a former All-Star in both the English and Belgian Leagues, has spent this week working hard to regain full fitness.

Coach Nick Nurse has revealed the 6ft 6ins forward from Illinois is in his plans for a tough double header which begins with the visit of Chester to the Brighton Centre tomorrow from 7pm.

League regulations mean only two out of Brown, Johnson and Aigner can be named on the same teamsheet, though Bears hope that headache will soon be eased by the arrival of Brown's British passport.

Nurse said: "It is basically two from three. I am not sure what my decision will be. I will probably make it close to game time.

"Rich is looking very good in practice although his fitness is only average.

"I think he probably makes us a better team but I have to keep in mind that we have won three of our last four games, with just the one defeat away to Towers."

If Aigner gets the nod, it will be his first game in this country since playing for Leicester back in 1995/96.

A lot has changed since then but he said: "I keep up to date on the internet and I have been following Leicester for the last couple of years.

"It's hard to tell what I can add to Brighton because I am still pretty new and trying to fit in with the team.

"Hopefully there will be something positive."

Bears will hope for another big crowd as they bid to hand Jets only their second defeat of the season and made a perfect start in a competition which saw them lose six out of six last term.

Long-serving fans might attach more importance to Sunday's Championship trip to Thames Valley Tigers, a match which sees Bears bid to score their first away win of the season and end a five-match losing streak against their old rivals.

Tigers silenced home fans by winning 89-68 at The Triangle in September and, after a tough time last season, are among the early southern conference pacesetters this time round.

Nurse admitted: "We are playing arguably the two best teams in the league. I would say they are better and more athletic than Sheffield and Towers, who we played two weeks ago.

"They are harder to handle because they are versatile. They are similar teams both in style and in talent and have both been playing really well."

No such problems for Worthing Thunder, who have already clinched top spot in the NBL Trophy southern pool ahead of tomorrow's trip to Inter-basket (8pm).

Coach Gary Smith is demanding his players do not ease off as they prepare for the start of Conference action a week tomorrow.

He insisted: "We will play as we intend to for the rest of the season. We play Inter-basket twice in the league and maybe in the play-offs as well so we will show them the respect they deserve."