Practice ends and the work seemingly is just beginning for the Orlando Magic's cast of unheralded centers and power forwards.

Welcome to the Magic's newly formed "Big Man Club," where the post-practice sessions often still are going an hour after the rest of the team already has left the floor.

With no true star in the middle, Orlando is hoping to plug its many holes in the paint with a cluster of big bodies, castoffs and gritty overachievers. Not only has the group put in extra time on the court after each practice, it has not had a day off since training camp began two weeks ago. While most of the Magic rested Monday and participated in a charity golf tournament, the centers and power forwards met early that morning for a bruising 90-minute workout at the team's practice facility.

"We wanted to do something to give them an identity, and once you earn your way into a club it builds camaraderie, pride and a sense of commitment," Magic coach Doc Rivers said. "We don't have a Shaquille O'Neal or a Tim Duncan, so we're trying to do it with a collection of bigs. We want them to take pride in their play and be mad when we give up a rebound or don't make a stop."

Veteran center Shawn Kemp is the biggest name of the group, but it's others such as Obinna Ekezie, Pat Burke and Olumide Oyedeji who have been pleasant surprises for the Magic this preseason. Ekezie likely will start at center tonight when the Magic face the Miami Heat, while Burke is expected to see extended minutes off the bench at the power forward slot.

"The Magic are really looking for an inside presence this season, whether it's from one guy or two, three or four guys," said Burke, a Cape Coral native who will be making a homecoming tonight when the two teams play in Estero. "We're all working extra every day, and that does really form a bond among the guys."

Battered inside most of last season and hammered by the Hornets in the playoffs, Orlando set its sights on becoming more physical in the paint this season. The Magic signed five free-agent big men to compete with Horace Grant and Andrew DeClercq inside. Orlando also hired assistant coach Mark Hughes to specifically work with the centers and brought in former NBA center Clifford Ray to serve as a consultant in training camp.

"When Doc hired me, he said he wanted the big men to be contributors," Hughes said. "The strength of this team is in the backcourt with Tracy (McGrady), Grant (Hill), Mike (Miller) and Darrell (Armstrong). But the big guys here have to make us better. We've got to rebound, play defense score when they catch the ball down low."

The Magic big men usually are the last ones off the floor on practice days. Hughes and Ray have tried to make the group tougher and more aggressive, working the centers and forwards with physically demanding drills. For example, Ray had the group sprinting and dunking medicine balls earlier this week. Following another practice, he was pounding the group with pads as they tried to score in the paint.

"Some teams have big men who can simply beat you with talent," said Kemp, who has worked hard in an attempt to lose weight. "This is a group that might not be the most talented, but we're going to go out and outwork you every game."