Trey Pulliam concedes there’s a target on his back — but the gutsy guard won’t be fazed by Super League Basketball rivals under orders to pressure the rookie playmaker.

Newcastle Eagles’ latest addition heads into Friday night’s Championship showdown with cross-border rivals Caledonia Gladiators keen to extend his club’s winning streak to four games.

And after coming through another tough test against Larry Austin Jr last week, Pulliam is determined to turn the tables on his over-aggressive opponents.

“As the point guard I’m used to getting special treatment,” admitted the former APOEL Nicosia star.

“I ain’t bothered by that at all. I don’t care about none of that. Last Friday I took what the Phoenix defence gave me and played aggressive.

“At the end of the day it’s still just basketball and it’s still fun to me. We’re competing and we all want to win.

“Even if I get into it with another player — unless something personal’s said — I don’t take it as nothing. After the game we shake hands and I tell them ‘well played’.”

Pulliam’s measured response to what’s been a baptism of fire in British basketball will delight head coach Marc Steutel ahead of the Gladiators showdown.

And it comes just weeks after Newcastle’s playcaller urged his newest recruit to do everything in his power to stay on the right side of SLB referees.

Given Pulliam’s increasing role, profile and great number of minutes, he’s become more and more susceptible to contested calls at key moments.

And the Texan admitted: “Understanding how the officials run a game is the hardest part for any player joining a new team in a new league.

“It’s all about trying to find the balance in terms of how the refs are going to call it on the day.

“I felt they called it bad for us against Phoenix but every other game it’s been bad for both teams!

“It’s kind of hard to know whether they’re going to call it ticky-tack, soft or if they’re going to call the hard fouls or let them go.

“You really never know what you’re going to get and it’s hard to gauge how aggressive you can play. You can’t do nothing about that though. As a player you just keep on playing.”

Pulliam and Austin Jr played close to the edge at the Vertu Motors Arena last weekend with the latter under orders to unsettle his less experienced rival.

Bodies were bumped and words exchanged but the homecourt favourite avoided a fifth foul and emerged the winner in a game that underpinned the Eagles’ top four challenge.

“Coach Steutel has just been telling me to play my own game and I’m feeling more and more comfortable every day,” added Pulliam.

“I try not to overthink things and just look for my team-mates when they find some space.

“As a point you might mess up a few plays here and there but you’re going to get mistakes in a basketball match.

“It’s never going to be perfect so I just focus on what I can control and do a job for my team.”

Banged up Newcastle have a two-week break after Caledonia come to town and Steutel will be calling for one last effort before giving his Trophy finalists some well-earned time off.

What follows is another unforgiving stretch of four games in 10 days as the Eagles focus on a tough domestic run-in and a European quarter-final against old foes Bakken Bears.

This Friday the Caledonia Gladiators make the short trip across the border once again for a special game night as a flavour of the MOBO Awards comes to the Vertu Motors Arena ahead of this months ceremony being hosted in Newcastle. Tickets for the tip-off with live performances and DJ sets are available from the box office.