Ralph Blalock is back in training with the Brighton Bears and is set to play in tomorrow's must-win BBL derby at home to London Towers.

The all-star guard sat out last week's game at Chester and was a passenger in the two previous outings with a damaged toe.

Bears lost all three matches to slip further behind Sheffield Sharks at the top of the league.

Blalock, however, underwent treatment yesterday and trained with the rest of the team this morning in the build-up to Towers' visit to the Triangle (5pm).

Coach Nick Nurse said: "Ralph will be back on Sunday and should be close to fully healthy.

"He will not be quite 100 per cent but he will be way better than he has been recently."

There is also good news regarding skipper Randy Duck, who has been out for almost two months.

Duck participated in half of yesterday's practice session and Nurse is ready to throw him back into action next weekend.

That means a comeback either at Leopards on Friday, against Birmingham on Saturday (7pm) or the return to the Brighton Centre on Monday, March 3, when Newcastle visit (6pm).

Tickets for all three forthcoming home games are available via the Bears hotline on (01273) 697400.