Brighton Bears today asked their rivals for basketball glory: "Have you got the bottle for the big day?"

Bears tackle in-form Newcastle Eagles in the final of the BBL Trophy at the Brighton Centre tomorrow (3pm).

Eagles have not won a major prize since 1991 but beat Bears 82-79 in the league last week and are favourites for victory.

Bears coach Nick Nurse, whose side have already won the BBL Cup this year, said: "Finals are very different to normal games and I wonder how Newcastle will react on the day.

"It could go down to the last couple of possessions and it depends which team handles that best."

Nurse's comments over the Eagles mental strength have been described as "feeble, misguided and misinformed" by the north east media.

But former Eagles favourite Tony Windless admitted: "Newcastle's young players are under a lot more pressure than Brighton. Brighton have got veteran players who know what it's all about."

Former Newcastle chief Tony Garbelotto backed his old club but revealed: "I told (Eagles coach) Fab Flournoy not to win at Brighton the week before the final."

A few tickets are still available from the venue for finals day, which also features Worthing Thunder's defence of the National Trophy.