SOLENT Stars expect to have a new guard on duty for the start of their National League Division 1 campaign.

Alan Cunningham's league champions have agreed terms with Chris Blunt, a slightly-built English player who has recently returned from the United States.

Blunt contributed 14 points to last Sunday's 100-82 Radio Solent Trophy friendly home win over Bournemouth.

With Mark Scott and Colin Irish on holiday and Cunningham concentrating on coaching, Panji Grainger top-scored with 19.

London-based Eddie Owusu (14 points) and Paul Mundy-Castle, the 1998/99 player-of-the-year, both put in appear-ances but the pair are still negotiating terms for the new season which tips off a week today at Coventry Crusaders.

Craig Metcalf is return-ing to the fold and for-mer skipper Martin Dowdall has also attended pre-season training but Masai Ujiri is retiring due to a heart condi-tion. He is to coach in the USA.

Tomorrow (6pm) Solent are back at Fleming Park for a final warm-up game against Budweiser League outfit Thames Valley Tigers.

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