Brighton Bears' skipper Randy Duck will miss next weekend's cup final against Chester.

The 27-year-old point guard has a hernia and is definitely out of the showdown.

Duck, who was in pain during last weekend's double header with London Towers and Birmingham, is expected to be sidelined throughout January.

That also counts him out of the key league clash at Towers tonight, a testing trip to Thames Valley on January 15, the visit of struggling Leicester and possibly away games with Milton Keynes and Towers again.

Coach Nick Nurse said: "It is bad news. He will have some sort of treatment to clear the problem up and it will cost him the whole of January."

Emiko Etete's damaged ankle has improved sufficiently for him to take on Towers tonight (7pm) while Errol Seaman has a 30 per cent chance of featuring in the final after making progress from a knee injury.

Bears did not make any signings ahead of last night's transfer deadline for the cup final and look unlikely to bring in a new face as cover for Duck.

Ralph Blalock, who will be a key man in the skipper's absence, has been named on a shortlist of five for the BBL player of the month award.