DEFENDING BBL Trophy champions TCS Chester Jets could be the first team to qualify for the semi-finals of the competition this season.

If Sheffield beat Leicester last night after The Chronicle went to press, a win over the Sharks tomorrow would send Paul Smith's side through.

In fact, the Sharks won't be far out of the Jets' thoughts all weekend, because they need to beat Newcastle Eagles at the Northgate Arena on Sunday, (5.30pm), to stay on the heels of Sheffield.

'We are approaching it as a knock-out game,' said Smith. 'The winner of it will be in a very good position to move forward - although we've got a revived Leicester still to play.

'This is an all-or-nothing game. It is not a case of going in and trying to lose by less than seven points, it's about winning the game. We are going there to win the game. That's the way we approach it.'

Chester's 93-86 victory over the Sharks in their first North Two meeting is the reason Smith is talking about seven points. Should the two sides finish level, basket difference in their meetings will separate the sides.

Jets needed this method to squeeze past the Sharks last season, having won at home by 23 points, only to lose away by 22.

'We tried to approach that game looking to win it,' said Smith. 'But 23 points is such a big lead that there was almost a protective state of mind.

'Jets teams in the last three or four years have never been good when they're going out to protect a lead - playing not to lose, as opposed to playing to win. We're an aggressive, attacking team so you have to go out with that mentality. The whole theme this week is about beating Sheffield.'

After the vital trophy game in Sheffield tomorrow, the Jets return home on Sunday for an equally tough test in the Championship.

Newcastle Eagles have already claimed one victory at Northgate Arena this season when they defeated the Jets 95-79 in the BBL Cup.

'They're probably the last team we want to face after running up and down with Sheffield,' admitted Smith. 'New-castle beat us in the cup and beat us well. And they've got probably the best player in the league right now in TJ Walker.

'I'm a big fan of TJ - we all are at the Jets. He came into the league a few years ago and played well, but has got better and better every year. He's really in exceptional form this year and he's performing every week.'

After that Eagles defeat, Chester went on a seven-game winning streak, which only came to an end at Milton Keynes last weekend.

'Our process is to treat every game the same afterwards, whether it's a win or a loss,' said Smith. 'We have had a good week in training, analysing what went wrong at Milton Keynes.

'The players had their say, which was good, and they are all looking forward to the next game. They will be up for this one.'

Smith has no injury worries - James Hamilton is over his ankle injury - so the Jets will be at full strength.