IT IS going to be like a cup final says Newcastle Eagles sharp-shooter Trey Moore ahead of this Sunday’s crunch BBL clash against Glasgow Rocks.

The ‘derby of the north’ has long been an eagerly-anticipated affair, with Rocks boss Sterling Davis saying last season: “Forget any other match in the BBL, the Rocks v the Eagles is the only one that matters”.

Likewise it is one the Eagles camp looks forward to as well with a whole series of classic matches between the two sides as well as the odd off-court controversy – Eagles ace Charles Smith’s brief dalliance up north in 2005 still rankles with the Rocks hierarchy.

For Moore, the fact that not only will the Eagles face the usual raucous atmosphere at the Kelvin Hall – which their own loyal travelling band of fans add to – but the winner could well gain a psychological edge by claiming the BBL top spot for themselves adds extra spice to this one.

He said: “This match is going to be like a Trophy semi-final or even a big final itself.

“Not only because of the rivalry – that will always be there – but the fact we are so close together in the league. We both have the same amount of points, but we are ahead of them because we have the better head-to-head record in our meetings this season.

“Yes, we won there in the first game of the season but a lot has happened since and both of us have gone up in the table after slow starts.

“Sterling always has his team very well organised and they are a tough side to beat when they are on form.

“We will have to be at our best too because there is not much between us when you look at it.”