Stars or no stars, Shock expects Comets' hard play.(Knight Ridder Newspapers)

DETROIT _ Could it be? The Houston Comets, four-time defending WNBA champions, on a down year?

It certainly appeared that way after the Comets lost superstars Cynthia Cooper to retirement and Sheryl Swoopes to a knee injury before the start of the season.

"That's like trying to replace Scottie Pippen and Michael Jordan in the same year," Shock head coach Greg Williams quipped.

But the Shock knows better than to underestimate Houston, its season-opening opponent on Saturday night at the Palace. Cooper and Swoopes are gone, but Tina Thompson and Janeth Arcain will play.

Thompson and Arcain each scored 26 points against Indiana on Thursday, leading the Comets (1-1) to an 82-78 victory.

"Regardless of who they have, you know they're going to play hard," guard Dominique Canty said. "That's just the way (Houston coach) Van Chancellor's teams play."

Thompson has assumed most of the scoring duties for the Comets this season. In addition to her 26 points Thursday, the 6-foot-2 forward grabbed six rebounds and scored 23 points in Houston's opener against the Los Angeles Sparks _ a team known for its bruising defense in the post.