Darius Defoe heads into one of the biggest games of his illustrious career determined to show the rest of Europe that Newcastle Eagles are not finished yet.

British basketball’s most decorated player leads his side into tonight’s do or die European North Basketball League (ENBL) in bullish mood.

And Defoe insists Bakken Bears will feel the full force of a Newcastle roster bruised by the five-game losing streak that’s put this season’s bold ambitions on the line.

The two teams are separated by just three points ahead of their quarter-final second leg showdown and the Eagles’ man for all seasons said: “The tie’s there for the taking.

“We’re down by a single possession but it’s only half-time. We’re focused on getting the win and getting the job done.

“It’s one of the most important games of my career. It could be the most important in terms of where we are right now.

“And that’s not just for me. It’s for all the guys and for the club. We’ve won everything there is to win in the British game but we’re trying to take the next step.”

Reaching the ENBL Final Fours at just the second time of asking would certainly represent progress for the most successful franchise in the history of UK hoops.

This time last year Bakken dumped the Eagles out of the competition at the same stage before going on to lift the 2024 title.

But Newcastle took a 7-1 record into the playoffs after topping Group A and looked favourites to exact revenge against the Danes before losing both Mike Okauru and Malcolm Delpeche to injury.

A battling display in Aarhus last week proved Marc Steutel’s men still have what it takes to keep their ENBL season alive and Defoe added: “Everyone’s doing what they can right now to find that next win.

“As a team we’re going through a tough period — down two guys and looking for a break.

“But we have to find that extra energy from somewhere. Maybe we need it to come from our fans — they can be the sixth man and we’ve never needed them more.

“Playing five games in 12 days is incredibly tough but it’s our job and so you won’t find anyone here trying to make excuses.

“We take pride in what we do and the last few league defeats haven’t been good enough. Tuesday is a time to turn the corner.”

Newcastle led by as many as 15 in Denmark last week only to drop off dramatically during a disappointing third period.

But the Eagles levelled the fourth quarter 23-23 to go down 87-84 and ensure everything is still to play for on Tyneside.

Keeping Bears dangerman Jacob Polakovich off the glass will be key after the marauding centre added 11 boards to his game high 27 points.

And Steutel will have one eye on Darko Jukic after the classy point guard fell one assist short of his own double double [correct] last week.

Bakken lost to top four rivals Horsens in the Danish Basketligaen on Thursday but head coach Anders Sommer has made ENBL progress his priority in March.

“We just need to play our DNA against the Bears,” said Steutel. “I’d have liked us to have been feeling a bit better about ourselves going into the game because losing to Bristol on Friday was nothing like the Newcastle Eagles I know we can be.

“But the players have gone away and done some soul searching and we know what we need to do.

“We’ve got to look after the ball better, particularly in the second half, and tidy up the offensive glass better — make sure they’re one and done.

“I know Bakken didn’t shoot the ball great from three-point range but they still got a couple of looks that I didn’t like. We’ve got to clean some of that up.

“But if we play with defensive energy then it’ll give us a chance.”

Tonight’s game tips off at 7.30pm and tickets are available via boxoffice.newcastle-eagles.com