Jason Siemon insists Brighton Bears are not the only ones who can slip up in the British League title race.

The Bears centre, among the most experienced players in the league, reckons leaders Sheffield could suffer the same sort of hiccup.

Bears went down at Chester on Sunday, their third defeat of the campaign, to hand Sheffield the advantage in the battle for top spot.

Randy Duck and colleagues still have their destiny in the own hands. Avoid any silly slip-ups and win two of the three remaining showdowns with Sheffield and they will be unstoppable.

They begin that pursuit with a tricky looking game at revenge-seeking Newcastle tomorrow (7.30pm).

Siemon admits that will be a competitive tussle given the way Eagles were pipped after leading by 23 points at the Brighton Centre last week.

He does not subscribe to the view, however, that a lack of strength in depth in the league means Sheffield will have a more comfortable passage than they might have done a few years ago, when the likes of Milton Keynes, Leopards, Birmingham and even Derby were all capable of shocking the top teams.

Siemon said: "It's still early days. We've got a couple of head to heads coming up and that's the key.

"Our destiny is still in our own hands, we don't have to depend on anyone else doing our job for us.

"What if somebody at Sheffield gets injured? What if they have an off night? It's a long season, it's a grind. I know Sheffield always play for 40 minutes of the game, they run and run offence, they're very good at what they do.

"No team in this league just rolls over, though. They come out, they fight and, if you are above them, they'll want to fight harder.

"There are some very good athletes and talented players in this league.

"If they get hot, which I've seen happen, they can just shoot you out of the ball game."

Bears got a glimpse of that when Jerry Hyatt and Shawn Myers threatened to send Newcastle to victory in Brighton last Tuesday.

The Eagles went home that night threatening to make revelations about behind the scenes goings on at the Bears and to demand referee Rob Hickman never again controlled one of their games.

Those revelations were not forthcoming and BBL chief Mike Smith confirmed there had been no request for Hickman to be black-listed, though he added: "Observations have been made and we will look at a tape and give them consideration."

Now Eagles will look for retribution on the court.

Siemon added: "They will be fired up. They are upset about how we beat them and they will want redemption for that.

"There was talk about the referees but that happens after every game. Calls go against us as well.

"You can't really play into that too much. You've just got to take care of what you are in control of. Referee are not one of those factors."

Interim coach Duck insists his men will bounce back from the Chester defeat.

He is prepared to carry the can for that first domestic setback in 16 outings.

Duck said: "As a coach I may have triggered that loss.

"I was on at the guys about making a good start and I think we ran out of gas.

"I'll take that one. We were good in the first half and I was really pleased with the Towers game on Saturday."

Duck appears to have introduced some fun into training. Yesterday's session included a popular perimeter shooting contest, won by Rico Alderson as Mani Laroche and Sullivan Phillips pushed him close.

Siemon, who first came to England ten years ago when Nick Nurse recommended him to Derby, is equally upbeat about the league as a whole.

He said: "There are some talented teams and the league keeps bringing in better, more athletic players.

"It's a strong league, it has been around for many years. I just think the next step is to get us back on TV, like Sky Sports. That's crucial."

Newcastle v Bears tomorrow might not have made a bad TV game itself.

Just not one for the faint hearted.