You might be good but you're no Los Angeles Lakers.

That is the message from a rival coach as Brighton Bears continue their assault on the British League title.

Bears go to improving Leicester Riders on Saturday (7.30pm) and the home side's new coach Karl Brown fears his men might be overawed by Nick Nurse's high flyers.

Brown, a vastly experienced England international who recently replaced Billy Mims as Leicester coach, admits his side will be massive outsiders in their bid to prevent Bears' tenth successive domestic victory.

He will tell his men, however: "They are not the Los Angeles Lakers, they are the Brighton Bears.

"It's about us executing and not being scared. I think a lot of teams go into games against the top teams scared."

Bears resumed training on New Year's Eve after a two-day break.

Guard Mike Brown said: "We enjoy New Year but we still want to make sure everybody knows what we are about.

"It's not a punishment or anything like that for us to come in to practice. Nick wants to keep us focused."

The game pits the league's top individual scorer, Leicester's Mike Pegues with 25 points per game, against the most prolific team.

Bears average 95.4 points per game, as well as having the second tightest defence behind Sheffield.

They also lead the league in rebounding at both ends of the floor with Rico Alderson the top offensive rebounder in the country.

Yorick Williams has converted 15 of 26 three-point attempts, a 57.7 per cent success rate, to make him the best long-range shooter in the league.

Bears are the worst free throw shooting team, with a 58 per cent strike rate, but have overcome that, not least Kendrick Warren, whose 21.4 points per game make him the league's third top scorer.

All of which backs up Randy Duck's prediction of a bright 2004.

The Bears skipper said: "The European games have put us in the right frame of mind about possessions.

"Against Milton Keynes last Sunday we were a bit sloppy but it has ground it into our heads that every possession is so big you can't take a break.

"With that in mind I think we will have a lot of success in the New Year."