It will be a considerably different Leopards team taking to the floor on Saturday when the Big Cats host SUAF Mildenhall Marauders at Wodson Park, tip-off 7.30pm.

With EBL Division One neighbours West Herts Warriors going bankrupt and withdrawing from the league at the end of last week, Jon Burnell’s side have moved quickly to sign three of their squad.

The most familiar face will be captain Matt Eames (pictured) who returns to the Big Cats after a year with Warriors.

Eames lifted the National Cup for the Leopards when they beat Reading Rockets at the Birmingham NIA in December 2005, but left at the beginning of last season due to limited court time.

Another face that the Leopards fans will recognise is centre Lee McCarthy. The 6’ 8” Englishman has BBL experience with Milton Keynes Lions and top scored for the Big Cats in their pre-season game against San Jose University before opting to remain with the Warriors.

Perhaps the most exciting signing for the Leopards, however, is 6’ 5” American shooting guard Antonio Bright.

The former Kentucky Wesleyan University player joined Solent Stars midway through last season, and helped transform their campaign as they moved away from the foot of the table to reach the play-offs.

Having left the Stars, who subsequently pulled out of the league, Bright – nicknamed “Sticks” - linked up with Warriors and following their demise, Leopards pounced to sign him.

“It was clear that we had to made some additions to our squad” said General Manager Dave Ryan.

“We always intended a mix of six senior and six junior players, but we were really struggling to get some bigger senior players. Lee and Matt will help us in the centre and forward spots, and will bring some much needed experience.

“We had looked for an American based in England, and Sticks is a player who fits that bill. He’s proved he can play in this league, and financially it’s feasible because he is already in the country.”

The signing of Bright will also enable Leopards to resume coaching at Chauncey School in Ware, with the club looking to increase the coaching in the area.

Saturday’s game at Wodson will see the Big Cats open their Braintree Sports Trophy campaign against a Mildenhall side who won the first game in the competition by beating West Anglia Fury 69-64.