London have won 13 of their 15 league games this season to sit top by two points, admittedly with five games in hand on the side in second, Cheshire Phoenix.

Meanwhile, the Eagles have struggled for large periods, losing 12 of their 18 games to lie in eighth – and in the European North Basketball League in which they were runners-up last season, Newcastle only ended a run of five straight defeats with a win over Croatians KK Dubrava on Tuesday.

But they have fared better in this competition and edged past Cheshire over two legs in the semi-final to reach this stage.

Newcastle won this event 12 months ago, beating Bristol Flyers 97-78 in the final to claim their 28th major trophy, the most of any club in British basketball.

And Steutel wants the team to embrace that heritage as they aim to shock the Lions and win the Trophy for a ninth time.

“London are a powerhouse,” he said.

“They’re resourced and they’re structured and they are built that way to be a powerhouse – and they have shown that this year with their domestic form.

“But we’re excited to embrace that underdog mentality and do all we can to have a historic day for us and for British basketball, and hopefully bring ‘our’ trophy back up north.”