De’Sean Allen-Eikens debunked the theory that Newcastle Eagles boast a deeper talent pool than their rivals after insisting: “We just want this more!”

The Super League Basketball rookie is fast earning a reputation as his team’s do-it-all disruptor down the stretch.

But ahead of the Friday night Trophy semi-final showdown with Leicester Riders, Allen-Eikens claimed there’s no secret to Newcastle’s success.

“How do we keep winning? This group just wants it more than the other guys,” he added.

“We have 10 really good players now and a lot of teams don’t have that.

“But a lot of teams don’t have the will to win that we have. And that’s the difference.”

The Eagles host Rob Paternostro’s Riders on the back of a blistering five-game winning streak.

And confidence is soaring in the Newcastle camp following Tuesday’s statement victory against Romanian big guns CSO Voluntari.

“We’ve reached a key stage of the season and we’re starting to come together,” added Allen-Eikens, who hit 20 points against CSO after coming alive in the final period.

“With the big European games and a semi-final it feels like we’re playing playoff basketball in December!

“That’s flipping our minds but it’s where we want to be.

“It feels like the most important month of the season so far — just as the new guys are starting to figure things out.”

Newcastle and Leicester have yet to lock horns this season but both teams cruised through the Trophy group stages.

And something will have to give at the Vertu Motors Arena as one of British basketball’s most intense rivalries resumes.

“I don’t know anything about any rivalry with the Riders,” added Allen-Eikens as he turned his focus to another new team and another big challenge.

“But I know we can still be better as a team this weekend. That was a big win against Voluntari but we played really badly for long periods.”

Allen-Eikens and team-mate Mike Okauru were already marked men in the SLB but after the pair combined for 28 fourth quarter points against CSO expect the Riders’ defence to be all over Newcastle’s prolific duo.

That could open up space for the likes of former Leicester favourite Josh Ward-Hibbert and a fit-again Darius Defoe.

And with Will Neighbour the only Eagle still out of action, the hosts appear to be in great shape ahead of the return of former Newcastle star Duke Shelton.

The 6ft 10in forward averaged a double double in 10 games for the Eagles in the 2021/22 season, logging 14 points and 10 rebounds.

But a less productive second spell with the men in black led to his release midway through the following season, prior to a move to the East Midlands earlier this year.

The undersized Allen-Eikens versus Shelton looks like an intriguing match-up but the former is confident the Eagles can make it eight wins in nine.

“It seems like every game right now comes down to one or two possessions and we keep coming out on top,” he added.

“That’s down to effort and commitment and that’s what coach Steutel wants to see.

“If it comes down to which team is going to perform in the final two minutes then I’d back us every time.”

Remaining tickets for this semi-final first leg tie are available from the box office.