There is a lot on the line in the first North-West derby between the BiG Storage Cheshire Jets and the Everton Tigers on ‘Knockout Sunday’ this weekend. Not only is it the first time that the clubs have met in the BBL, but there is also a BBL Cup quarter-final place at stake.

Despite their impressive list of honours in recent years, the BBL Cup is one competition that has thus far eluded the Jets. They were successful in the National Cup, but have not repeated that since the exclusive BBL Cup took over from that competition amongst Britain’s top flight.

However, player-coach TJ Walker is no stranger to the final of it, having led Newcastle Eagles to an 83-69 victory against London Towers in the 2005/06 season and he’s looking forward to getting back into knockout action,

“Every game is important, and that’s what I’m telling the guys. But it’s a Cup game and everything goes out of the window. I won a lot of medals with Eagles, and I need a lot more.

“The first one at any club is always special, and by the time we won everything it just became something we did. I want Jets to get back into that position, but first of all we need to win that first trophy.”

Shawn Myers is another player who is no stranger to the big stage, and the Molten Player of the Month for October added,

“I’m looking forward to every challenge, and if we win three games we’re in a final. Every game is like a final, if you lose a league game it can affect you later in the season, but there are no second chances in the Cup. We need to play to the best of our ability.”

The Jets host the Tigers at the Northgate Arena on Sunday, tip-off at 5.30pm.

The semi-finals of the BBL Cup are being staged on one day, Saturday 15th December, at the K2 Arena in Crawley. Tickets are available via the BBL Webshop or by calling 0870 445 0606.

The BBL Cup Final, one of the showpiece events of the season, returns to Birmingham’s National Indoor Arena on Sunday 13th January. For tickets call the NIA box office on 0870 909 4144 or go online at www.theticketfactory.com