Nick Nurse looked forward to a Brighton Bears double bill and declared: "Now we will see what this team is made of."

Bears host northern conference champions Sheffield Sharks at the Brighton Centre tomorrow from 7pm.

They then visit Nurse's former club London Towers, last season's southern section top dogs, on Sunday (5pm).

It is a huge double test for a Brighton side keen to build on recent home wins over London Leopards and Derby Storm.

Nurse said: "We have got supposedly the two best teams in the league back-to-back.

"It remains to be seen if they win the conference titles again because the league is looking unbelievably competitive this season.

"But we are looking forward to it. We are expecting a big crowd at the Brighton Centre and we must step out and perform."

Nurse has a short list of three men to fill the void left by Dave Wahl's recent departure, though none are direct replacements.

The Bears coach expects to have a new man on board in time for the next home game against Chester on November 3.

Worthing Thunder coach Gary Smith has put plans of a playing comeback on hold after pulling a thigh muscle in training.

Thunder can clinch a last eight Trophy place with wins at home to Westminster tomorrow fom 8pm and at North London on Sunday from 4pm.

Smith said: "We are virtually through anyway but we want to keep winning."