Newcastle Eagles go into Friday night’s home European North Basketball League (ENBL) match-up against BK Olomoucko of Czechia looking to bounce back from the disappointment of last Sunday’s Super League Basketball (SLB) Trophy Final loss against London Lions.

The Eagles still have a mathematical chance of qualifying for the round of 16 play-off stages, but must win to give themselves that chance. Even a win may not be enough if other results do not go their way, but a defeat would mean they will definitely be eliminated.

Head Coach Marc Steutel is in no doubt of the importance of the game and how he views his sides task.

“We want to win the basketball game. That’s the thing that we can control at this time and that’s where our thoughts are. We want to play good basketball that we’ve played many times this season.”

“We want to find consistency which is an easy word to use but we want to have longer periods where we are playing our level of basketball. Inevitably when you’re playing good teams consistently you’ve always got to play to weather the storm.”

“The challenge for us is to weather the storm. Making sure it stays positive within who we are and what we do. So, I think that’s our biggest challenge.”

Certainly, the word challenge is an appropriate one as with each game that rolls up it seems as if the Eagles are in a pressure cooker situation. Friday night in the Vertu Arena at 7:30pm is no different to that as it is one of those win or go home occasions.

Even with a defeat the Czech side will finish above the Eagles in the group league standings. They come in with a four-win three loss record whilst Newcastle are on two wins and five losses. If though Eagles can lift that to a 3-5 record it could be enough to go through.

Steutel is well aware of that situation and also the threat that BK Olomoucko are to his side’s chances.

“They are a tough physical team that play in a good domestic league. We know that league really well as we’ve played teams from that league before. We’ve had players that have played in that league before and players that have gone from the SLB to the Czechia league.”

“We’ve had a chance to watch them a little bit as well. They lost to the Greek side Iraklis on Wednesday night, so we got a chance to watch that game as well. But for me it’s about making sure we play well and win the game.”

“We want to give our great fans a home win in the Vertu Arena. We have to make sure we have the right mentality and right mindset for this game and the next stretch of games to come.”

The saying in so many team sports is taking things one game at a time and that also has to be the Eagles mantra for Friday despite knowing they have another double-header weekend on their packed and busy schedule.

Steutel and his players are due at the Mattioli Arena Leicester to take on the Riders in SLB Championship action on Sunday afternoon. But that is on the back burner with all eyes on the ENBL clash on Friday night and a must win game against BK Olomoucko.

Tickets are still available on the box office.