Drew Lasker is tipping Newcastle for one final tilt at a title this season despite a desperate run of domestic results that leaves the men in black bottom of the Super League Basketball (SLB) form table.

And the former Eagles favourite has singled out Trey Pulliam as the potential ace in Marc Steutel’s playoff pack with the US guard continuing to win over British fans on the back of a series of battling performances.

Newcastle host Manchester Basketball just six days after Herman Mandole’s men bagged a 31-point win on Tyneside.

Marc Steutel’s side is in the midst of a brutal stretch of 10 games in 23 days and the Eagles have won just one of their last 10 regular season match-ups.

But Lasker insisted: “This Eagles team is still talented enough to go deep in the playoffs and win the whole thing.

“I think it’s clear to see that Newcastle lack the size and athleticism to win an SLB Championship right now.

“They don’t have the depth to compete with the likes of London or Sheffield over a 32-game regular season — especially when those clubs aren’t facing the extra pressure of competing in Europe.

“But the Eagles have proved they can be effective in short bursts, switching from competition to competition. They won the SLB Trophy and did well in the European North Basketball League (ENBL).

“When it comes to the big games and knockout basketball they’re battle hardened and built to win.

“They’re used to adjusting on the fly whereas the league season is all about long term consistency.

“Newcastle might lack that consistency but they don’t lack ways to win.”

Sunday’s battling defeat at Sheffield was the Eagles’ 50th game of an unforgiving campaign.

But that season’s brought two finals, one trophy and some magical memories at home and abroad.

“It’s all about how you view Newcastle’s work so far,” added Lasker. “If, at the beginning of the season, fans had been promised the SLB Trophy, a European final and a place in the playoffs they’d have taken that.

“But then those successes have been tempered by some pretty inconsistent basketball in the Championship.

“The Eagles were on fire in February with Mike Okauru winning Player of the Month and Marc picking up Coach of the Month.

“Then by March they couldn’t buy a win. That’s been the story of the league season but everything can change again in the playoffs.”

Steutel has already spoken about getting his roster postseason ready and returning Seneca Knight to the starting five is a priority.

But as Newcastle’s supporters nervously await news on the all-action American, Lasker is predicting Pulliam will have a big part to play between now and May.

“As of late, in the last three or four weeks, it feels like Trey’s starting to really find solutions domestically like he has been doing in Europe,” added one of DAZN’s leading commentators.

“He’s been playing really, really well. I’m happy to see that. And absolutely, Pulliam is probably the biggest X-factor for the Eagles right now.

“He has proved he can be that third scorer — alongside Christian James and De’Sean Allen-Eikens — who the Eagles need to support Okauru and Knight.

“Newcastle need someone else who can create their own offence when the shot clock’s ticking down and Pulliam has the tools to be that guy.

“Point guard has been a problem position for the Eagles all season but Trey finally looks like the solution. He’s playing his best basketball at the business end of the season.”

Tickets for this rare Thursday Vertu Motors Arena showdown, the night before Good Friday — and this coming Easter Monday’s home-court clash against Bristol Flyers — are available on the box office.