New York ? The Western Conference All-Stars don’t discuss their dominance of the East in the WNBA All-Star game.

They just want to keep it going.

“I made my players aware that it would be embarrassing to be the first Western group to get beaten,” said West coach John Whisenant of the defending champion Monarchs. “But, the reality of it is we have so much pressure in the regular season, that this is a fun thing for most of us. The competitive spirit still comes out in me and the coaching staff, and all the players want to win.”

The West is 6-0 in the midseason contest and will be looking to keep its perfect record intact against an East team missing three starters tonight at Madison Square Garden.

“We never talk about it. I don’t think it ever comes up,” Houston Comets star Sheryl Swoopes said Tuesday. “It’s never really an issue until gametime. We don’t talk about it with each other, we don’t talk about it to the other team. Once they throw the ball up, it’s about pride.

“We haven’t lost any, we don’t want to lose any. The East hasn’t won, and they want to win. We want to come out tomorrow, enjoy it and have fun, but we definitely want to win.”

Swoopes, playing in her sixth All-Star game, will be joined in the starting lineup by Comets teammate Dawn Staley, Sacramento’s Yolanda Griffith, and Seattle’s Sue Bird and Lauren Jackson.

The East’s chances became tougher when three starters – leading vote-getter Tamika Catchings of Indiana, Nykesha Sales of Connecticut and New York’s Becky Hammon – pulled out due to injuries.

“The East is pretty beat up,” said the Sun’s Katie Douglas, a first-time All-Star and replacement starter. “Hopefully we can rally up and everybody can bring a little extra. Every player has faced adversity some time in their life, and obstacles, and hopefully we can use all the injuries and bring a lot of energy.”

Joining Douglas in the starting lineup for the East are Connecticut teammates Lindsay Whalen and Margo Dydek – the remaining players voted by fans to start – and Washington’s Alana Beard and Detroit’s Cheryl Ford.

Charlotte’s Tangela Smith, Chicago rookie Candice Dupree and the Sun’s Taj McWilliams-Franklin replaced the injured players on the roster. The East’s other reserves are Indiana’s Tamika Whitmore and Detroit’s Deanna Nolan and Katie Smith.

Despite the East’s injuries, Swoopes doesn’t believe her West teammates are taking anything for granted.

“They’re missing some key players, but at the same time, it’s going to give (other players) an opportunity to step their games up,” she said. “I don’t think we can come in tomorrow and say ‘Well they don’t have three of their starters, so it’ll be an easy game.’ Cause it’s definitely not going to happen.”

Although Sales won’t play, Connecticut – which lost in the finals the last two years – has its entire starting lineup at the game, along with coach Mike Thibault and his staff.

Los Angeles center Lisa Leslie – averaging a career-high 20.1 points – leads the West’s reserves and will be only player to appear in all seven All-Star games. She will be joined by Houston’s Michelle Snow, a replacement for injured teammate Tina Thompson, three rookies – Minnesota’s Seimone Augustus, Phoenix’s Cappie Pondexter and San Antonio’s Sophia Young – and 2004 rookie of the year Diana Taurasi of the Mercury.