STILL smarting from their BBL Trophy final defeat a fortnight ago, Brighton Bears can have the last laugh when they take on TCS Chester Jets again at the Northgate Arena on Sunday.
If the Bears beat Scottish Rocks at home tomorrow and clinch their first victory at Chester since 1996 on Sunday, they will be the new BBL champions - if Sheffield Sharks lose at home to London Towers.
The Sharks match starts at 4pm and will be over soon after the start of the Chester-Brighton game (5.30), so there could be plenty of tension in the air at the Arena if news of a Sheffield defeat leaks out.
Said Brighton coach Nick Nurse: 'It's a lot of results. You wouldn't be able to think about it until the first quarter of our game. We'll switch off all our mobiles and if somebody gives us a trophy at the end of it, then great!'
If, as expected, Brighton win tomorrow, the BBL Championship trophy will be taken to the Arena on Sunday - incentive enough for the Jets to try for their third win against the Bears since Christmas in Trophy and league.
Said coach Paul Smith: 'I think if it comes to that situation, it will certainly be part of my pre-game speech. One of the things I've learned with our guys is that kind of thing motivates them. It's not disrespectful or anything, they just don't want it happening on their court.'
While Nurse doesn't really want to get into title talk, Smith has no doubt that the Bears will eventually be crowned champions, whether it be in this game or not. What he's not certain of is how the Bears will respond to their Trophy final defeat to the Jets.
'I'm not sure what effect it will have, to be honest,' he said. 'I'm sure they'll have something to prove, but they are champions-elect so they'll have the pride of a champion and come to our place looking for a win - and looking to win well.'
Smith doesn't yet know who will be fit for weekend action, starting against Thames Valley Tigers at Bracknell tomorrow. Ryan Huntley sat out Sunday's win over Scottish Rocks with an ankle injury and hasn't trained this week, but Calvin Davis, John McCord and James Hamilton all struggled through and have improved with treatment.
Tigers inflicted the Jets' first defeat of the season back in October, but this has since been avenged at the Northgate Arena and McCord, Billy Singleton and Mike Nurse will be looking forward to returning to their former club.
The BBL Championship Play-off final on May 2 will be screened live on Sky Sports.
