ESSEX Pirates’ Colin Sing will be more determined than most to impress against Mersey Tigers tomorrow night.

For the ever-improving Scouser is travelling down to the pre-season friendly at the Southend Leisure and Tennis Centre with the Tigers team.

And he is therefore keen to produce a good performance.

“Living where I do it made sense to come down for the game with the Tigers but it could also make it quite interesting,” said Sing.

“I will be sitting alongside them all on the coach and then getting off to play against them which is unusual but I’m looking forward to it.

“It will be great to get back on the court but it will be very hard for us because Tigers are a very strong team.”

The match, which tips off at 7.30pm and is being played to raise money for the Mayor of Southend’s chosen charities, will be Pirates’ last outing before the start of the BBL season.

Sing is just of one of a handful of players left around from last term.

But he hopes the clash with the Tigers can help him develop an understanding with the newer members of the team.

“Hopefully we can merge together and play well ahead of the new season,” said Sing.

“We haven’t trained together yet so we need to get to know each other’s games before the BBL season starts and this is an ideal opportunity.”

It will be a tough test for Pirates though as Tigers were triumphant in the BBL play-offs last season, beating Glasgow Rocks in the final.

Since then they have strengthened their squad even further with the addition of Great Britain captain Andrew Sullivan and Sing expects them to be challenging for honours once again.

“Tigers will be up there this year,” said Sing.

“They will be contenders for the league and the play-offs so it’s going to be a very difficult night.”