AS FAR as first games go, Lee Davie could not have picked a more difficult start to his Durham Wildcats career than facing Esh Group Eagles.

The Newcastle outfit, smarting from a trophyless season, host Wildcats at Sport Central tonight, and recently-appointed head coach Davie believes Fab Flournoy’s team will be dangerous in the British Basketball League this season.

“Leicester could argue that they’re the team to beat, but the Eagles will be dangerous coming off a year where they didn’t bring any silverware home,” said Davie, who succeeded Dave Elderkin as Wildcats head coach over the summer.

“They’ll be looking to get their season off on a right note and we need to make sure we’re in a good position to deal with that and try to get a win going our way.”

Ralph Bucci and Paul Elderkin are the only two faces remaining at Maiden Castle this season, as Wildcats have recruited extensively, remodelling the team in an attempt to improve on last season’s performance and get to the post-season play-offs.

And Davie is happy with his side’s balance going into the new campaign.

“From a franchise standpoint it seems we’re going in the right direction,” he said. “We have got some people from previous seasons but half the team are new to us. We’ve got some more BBL experience, plus two or three guys from top American programmes. We’ve got a good balance and a good core group there.

“As much as the Eagles will give us issues, we’ll give them issues as well. Anything can happen on the day so we’re looking forward to it.”

Eagles have made changes to their roster too, adding Paul Gause, Stuart Thompson, Malik Cooke, Drew Lasker and Scott Martin to Flournoy’s side this season.

And Davie feels that wholesale changes on both sides will make for a close battle on Tyneside this evening.

“We’ve taken a lot out of pre-season, we’re along the right lines,” said Davie. “They don’t know our players, it’ll be different with me instead of Dave this year, so there’s a lot of unknowns for both sides, it’s a case of who will capitalise on that the most.

“I’m really excited. I don’t think it’s really sunk in yet that it is tonight, but we’ve been together for 24 practices. We’ve come a long way in that time. We’ve had some guy miss some sessions, players getting visas and what-not, but the core group of guys who have been here since day one are looking sharp.

Flournoy is similarly upbeat ahead of the new season, with his side looking to preserve their six-match winning record against their neighbours.

“We are really looking forward to the beginning of the season," said Flournoy.

"For the first time in what seems like years we have had the whole team together early and I feel we are a couple of steps ahead of where we normally are at this point.

"However, I am also aware that the whole league has strengthened so we are really just desperate to get started and into the season.

"Durham have recruited basically a new team with the exception of Ralph Bucci and Paul Elderkin.

"Our games are always tough, local derbies and I don't see this one being any different."