JAMES Hamilton will be pitched straight into action this weekend after being tempted back to the BBL to add experience to Chester Jets' play-off challenge.

The 34-year-old forward this week re-signed for the BBL Champion-ship-winners and is expected to make his debut in Sunday's daunting visit to leaders Scottish Rocks.

Skipper of the famous 'JetWash' team in 2002 and also a former assistant coach at Chester, Hamilton left for London Towers in 2004 and played for them last season before taking a break from the sport.

He has rejoined Jets as an answer to their search for a replacement import player following the departure of Jamal Brown last month.

Brown was allowed to return to his native America due to a family bereavement, leaving Jets' squad stretched and short on experience.

Jets head coach Billy Singleton is confident Hamilton's presence can give his team a huge boost.

He said: 'James's pedigree speaks for itself - he is 6ft 9in and can play in four positions on the floor. We're delighted to have him and he brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to our team.'

Hamilton, from Grand Blanc, Michigan, joined Jets in 1999 but has also played for Fribourg in Switzerland, London Towers, Worthing Bears and Gippsland in Australia.

Singleton feels Hamilton has joined a Jets squad gradually growing in strength and maturity.

After the disappointment of losing five matches on the spin, Chester recovered in spectacular fashion last weekend with wins over Brighton Bears and Sheffield Sharks.

Singleton said: 'We trained very hard last week and it was an excellent weekend for us.

'The likes of Phil Gilbert, Damon Bailey, John Simpson and Anthony Martin, they're really maturing. As the season goes on, people take more responsibility and they step up. Those guys did it at the weekend and I'm really proud of them.'

Singleton knows his players will have their work cut out this weekend against the table-topping Rocks.

'We're going to take the positives from the weekend and try to move on,' he said. 'The Rocks are a great team, they are really playing well this year. They've got a couple of Scottish internationals in their team and a couple of English internationals. But we're going to train hard this week so we're ready for them.'

Last weekend's double saw Jets reclaim a spot in the all-important top-eight, and Singleton added: 'Every game's important and this weekend we'll have to do it all over again.

'We're realistically looking at fifth, sixth, seventh or eighth place and we'll have to finish strong to get any one of those spots.

'But we can do it because there's a lot of talent and pedigree in this squad and a lot of coaching experience, with Paul Smith and Mike Burton. The experience is there.

'Am I thinking we're exceeding expectations? Not really.'

Jets are without a home fixture this weekend. Their next match at Northgate Arena is against Milton Keynes Lions on Sunday week. Tip-off is 5.30pm.