open fireplace help - no fireback

[village idiot]

i have just bought a house with an open (solid fuel) fireplace in the living room. the old owners removed their fire basket. the insert is blackened in a state conducive with regular usage.

i have got hold of a nice fire basket through a friend, but it does not have an integral fireback.

i have heard horror stories about exploding bricks caused by the moisture in the conventional clay building bricks turning to steam.

the house is over 100yrs old now... could i take the view that the bricks are nicely 'seasoned' and just crack on, or should i be investing in a firebasket complete with fireback?