Basketball: 40 minutes of hell facing Eagles - Fab; Coach says there's still much work to do in Trophy.

Byline: By Mark Douglas 

NEWCASTLE Eagles may only be one win away from clinching a place in the BBL Trophy Final - but head coach Fabulous Flournoy has told his battered and bruised side to expect another "40 minutes of hell" before they start making plans for finals day.

The Eagles hold a six-point lead over the Everton Tigers from Tuesday's first leg in Merseyside, but with key players Charles Smith and Lynard Stewart ruled out through injury, Flournoy does not believe his team can boast a significant advantage.

Trey Moore will line up with a slight ankle injury, while the likes of Darius Defoe and Tap Toney will play most of the game without rest as the Eagles' resources are stretched to breaking point.

But while their bodies are battered and bruised, the midweek victory over their biggest rivals in the league has given them a mental boost ahead of their second showdown with the Tigers.

The 88-82 win was the perfect response to their insipid defeat by Worcester the week before - and Flournoy was delighted with the spirit shown by his tightly-knit squad.

"I was really happy with the way the team came together for the win in the first leg, but the hard part is still to come,"

Flournoy said.

"They know we're injured and more importantly they will come harder because they'll be more focused and more determined to beat us.

"We need to put in a performance just as good as the one we produced on Tuesday - if not better.

"And even if we do that, there is no guarantee that it will necessarily be good enough to win the game.

"We've got this lead but it is a very tough game and I don't really see it as much of an advantage. We're going to have to win the game, I'm sure of that.

"At the moment there's absolutely nothing in it.

"It's not like a football game where that kind of a lead would be a big advantage.

And if I was the Everton head coach, I'd be saying that all they have to do is win each quarter by two points and they are there."

The Eagles at least have home court advantage, something that will give his players more recovery time after their midweek exertions in Liverpool.

"It's obviously good to be playing at the Arena," Flournoy said.

"Hopefully we'll have a good crowd because it is a big game, and I think it plays into our hands in other ways as well.

"With us having a few bumps and bruises we get that bit more time to rest, there's not all the travel and we can concentrate on what we've got to do."

Whatever happens, there should be fireworks.

While the Eagles are league champions, Everton boast considerable firepower in their team.

"They are a deep team, and Andre Smith is having a phenomenal season,"

Flournoy said.

"With the likes of Josh Gross, Richard Midgley and Chris Haslam in their side, they are really deep team, and Tony Dorsey is back now, so it's going to be tough.

"It is a shame that we're playing them now really - this should be the final."

CAPTION(S):

WARNING Fabulous Flournoy.; BATTLING ON Trey Moore will play for the Eagles despite an ankle injury.