Cheshire Jets coach Paul Smith admits they go into the BBL Trophy Final against three-time winners Newcastle Eagles as underdogs.

Victory against the Eagles at Guildford Spectrum on Sunday would see Jets secure their fifth BBL Trophy.

They have already registered one win against the side from the north-east this season.

But Smith said: "It's going to be a very tough game for us. We'll be going in as underdogs it's fair to say."

Sunday's game will be the Jets' second final of the season following their narrow three-point defeat by Sheffield Shark's in January's BBL Cup decider.

''It doesn't happen very often to be fair and we're very proud of it, very pleased," he said.

''We enjoyed ourselves in the BBL Cup Final, even though we didn't get the right result.

''It was a great week leading up to the final and a great week after, so we're really pleased to be in that situation again and hopefully we can go one step further on Sunday and win it.''

Despite the defeat by Sheffield he feels his side still took something from the game.

''You always learn more in defeat than you do in victory and I think one or two of our younger players were a little overawed by the occasion on the day," he said. "It was their first professional cup final.

''So I think with that under their belt we'll be a lot more focused, a lot more confident and be able to equip ourselves well on Sunday."

Smith sees Sunday's final as reward for the hard work that has gone into creating a competitive side.

''We had a few dodgy years for want of a better phrase, both on and off the court," he said.

''A change of ownership and then we've had some stability.

''What we've tried to do is build, that's the most successful model in basketball and Newcastle are probably the best example of it.

''So this year we've built on last year and I felt a top four finish and maybe a run in one of the cups would have been a good season for us and that's roughly where we are now so I'm pretty pleased.''

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