Excitement is building ahead of tonight’s huge SLB Championship game in The Vertu Arena against Manchester for Head Coach Chloe Gaynor and her Eagles women’s team. The importance of the match-up and occasion is not lost on Gaynor.

“It’s a big game because of the nature of the game. We’ve labelled it ‘The Big One.’ Its one of those games that we’re trying to show out for the community and the fans that support us. But with regards to the league standings its important as well.”

“We’re still trying to chase in that battle for that fourth place and a home play-off game. It’s a game we must win.”

Gaynor went on to discuss her opponents and the League as she sized up her team’s task against a side Newcastle beat twice down in Manchester this season. Once in the Championship and once in the Trophy,

“You have to credit Manchester. They’ve had a decent campaign and made the Cup Final. The level of the league has improved, and we are seeing more competitive games week in week out. I don’t think there’s any real upsets despite Manchester losing to London at home last weekend.”

“That’s good to see for the League. Manchester are a tough team. This will be the third time we’ve seen them now and we have to be on our A-game.”

After the 76-72 home win last time out against Leicester the team have been preparing for an event that everyone is looking forward to with intent as Gaynor explained.

“We’ve just come out of a practice that was one of our better ones this season. We keep talking about defence and executing defensively. We still haven’t seen our best defence at any point this season.”

“At the beginning of the season I highlighted that should be an area of intent for us. I don’t think we’ve got to that point for different reasons. The team are starting to lean into that fact that in order for us to play the transition offence that we want to play.

“We look really good when we get into that transition offence and we don’t look great when we get into the half court. To get into that you have to defend, get stops and run. That’s been the theme for us hopefully to build that in the back end of the season and that stops gets results.”

Gaynor has seen both sides of the coin when it comes to ‘The Big One’ and knows it’s the sort of night everyone should savour as she concluded her preview.

“I’m really looking forward to it. It’s the first time we’re playing on the show court setup. It’s something that the girls have been looking forward to all season as well.”

“When I was talking to them about coming over here and joining us it’s something that I mentioned.That we get this game where we get to really show off what we can do. I’m excited for the team that they get to do that hopefully in front of a lot of fans.”

“It was a game I always looked forward to as a player. I really enjoyed my first one last year as a Coach and I’m looking forward to this one too. I just hope we put on a performance that people want to keep on coming back too.”

There’s no doubt that the anticipation is growing and the atmosphere is starting to buzz for the showpiece game that tips off at 7:30pm on Thursday. A game and night not to be missed.

Tickets are available on the box office and on the door at the Vertu Arena tonight.