Brighton Bears have been told to step up their fitness levels for the title run-in.

Coach Nick Nurse is putting his players through extra stamina work in training this week ahead of the games that could see them clinch the British League.

Bears have been outscored in the fourth quarter of various games recently, including the Trophy final, tense wins over Sheffield and Milton Keynes and Saturday's home setback against Scottish Rocks.

There have been suggestions within the squad that poor conditioning is to blame.

Now Nurse has vowed to get them running, despite the 50-point thrashing of Chester Jets which leaves them two wins from the title.

He said: "We will be hitting the fitness centre hard this week.

"I plan to eliminate any doubt in anybody's minds that we are not fit enough.

"We will spend more time running and lifting weights and that will be the case over the next month or so."

Nurse has until tonight to decide whether he continues his fight against a suspension from the bench.

The Bears chief has been hit with a three-game ban which would come into force for Saturday's home clash with Leicester Riders.

It would also cover two games over the Easter weekend, away to Birmingham and at home to London Towers.

Nurse is adamant the ban is too heavy but does not know whether it is worth his while appealing.

Seemingly in reference to the recent suspension of Lynard Stewart, who plays for title rivals Sheffield, Nurse said: "It seems ridiculous that a guy throws a punch and misses one game whereas all I was doing was supporting Kendrick Warren when he was talking to the refs."

Nurse's arguments saw him ejected from the recent game with Scottish Rocks, along with Warren, who definitely misses the Leicester game.