BRIGHTON Bears' coach Mark Dunning admits his side will have their work cut out trying to improve on a dismal away record against Manchester Giants tomorrow.

Bears have won just five of their last 56 games on the road and it's nearly four years since they last toppled Giants on their own court.

But Bears might just be able to catch Nick Nurse's side at their most vulnerable.

Giants face arch rivals Sheffield Sharks for the third time in two weeks tomorrow in the semi-finals of the Uni-ball Trophy and Bears are ready to pounce if their hosts aren't quite at their best when they meet at the MEN Arena 24 hours later (tip off 5.30pm).

Dunning said: "How they react to what happens against Sheffield could go one of two ways.

"If they win and celebrate too much they might take their next opponent too lightly or they could come to play us on a high and bounce us off the court.

"All I know is that we will prepare thoroughly. We have to have a very detailed plan of how we are going to beat the better sides and we must execute that on the floor.

"We didn't do that against London Towers last Saturday and were never in the game as a result."

Bears' play-off hopes are diminishing with every defeat and while no one excepts them to improve their hopes by beating Manchester, Dunning says his players are still under pressure to perform.

"The only pressure they will be under on Sunday is to perform better than they did last week as a team and individually and that's what I will challenge them to do," he added.

Bears are at full strength and 19-year-old guard Lee Miles will again be included after making his debut last weekend.

The former Ware player has been playing in the second division of the National League at Reading this season, but is anxious to test himself at a higher level.

"He's not an impact player, but he had four minutes last week and was thrilled to bits.

"He did well and he is the sort of English player who I would love to develop," said Dunning.

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