Skipper Randy Duck has called for another huge mental effort to help Brighton Bears knock one of their British League rivals out of the running.

Bears play London Towers at the Triangle on Saturday (7pm) aiming to hand their visitors a seventh league defeat of the season.

They will again do so without two senior players as Rico Alderson completes his three-match ban and Errol Seaman continues to suffer with a knee ligament problem.

Alderson returns on Sunday to tackle a Birmingham side who are due a few wins after a spate of recent near misses.

Duck was back to his best in last weekend's thrilling win double over Birmingham and Thames Valley, helped by some outstanding displays from his team mates.

After 90 minutes of basketball in 24 hours however, the Brighton captain admitted concentration rather than stamina was tested by the lack of man power.

He said: "Winning those games was a test of our character more than our physical abilities and to get those results was superb.

"On Saturday at Birmingham every possession was nailbiting and we went to double overtime and won which was really big for us.

"Then to come back home and step up and play hard in the second half against Thames Valley was really pleasing.

"We had guys who refused to lie down, we got stronger and played better defence and I give credit to all my team-mates for that.

"Everybody looked down the line and thought 'hey, we're kind of thin tonight' and stepped up. Players made great decisions to help us win the game."

Thames Valley, in particular, looked like they really fancied their chances of beating the threadbare Bears, especially when Greg Meldrum's third three-pointer opened a 31-20 lead in the second quarter.

Bears were struggling for defensive boards at that stage but recovered to out-rebound their visitors 40-32 and take the contest 84-73.

Wilbur Johnson totalled 30 rebounds for the two weekend games while Sterling Davis had 18 and Ralph Blalock 14.

Duck knows Towers will take heart from the absence of Alderson and Seaman.

He said: "I would too if I knew two or three of their players were on the bench.

"Thames Valley did the right thing for one half but the pressure of us being aggressive paid off for us.

"I played 90 minutes in two days but I wouldn't have it any other way. This is my team in a way and I want to be out there with them win or lose."

Coach Nick Nurse had enjoyed the luxury of a full strength line-up for every one of his 58 Bears games before last weekend.

Despite their handicap, they still kept Thames Valley down to eight points in the third quarter.

No team has produced a better ten-minute defensive performance in the league this season since the opening night, when champions Chester were held to six points in the third quarter at Newcastle.

Chester are now back at their best, Sheffield remain strong but Towers are looking like a BBL version of Liverpool, capable of beating anyone but increasingly unlikely to take the title.

Duck said: "Towers have lost a few games recently in the leagues.

"I reckon ten to 11 losses and you might be out of it so if we will definitely try to give them another. It's helping us to stay in the upper parts of the league, which is where I think we belong."