Britain are fighting for their Division-A status in a series of round robin games against Finland, Romania and Bosnia and Herzegovina, with the top two remaining in Europe’s top league, considered crucial to the team's chances of being allowed to compete at the London 2012 Olympics.

 

While a win in Finaldn would be desirable head coach Mark Clark knows that the following three home games will shape his team’s campaign.

 

He said: “It’s too early to say yet as to who is going to be the hardest opponent in the group. 

 

"There’s all sorts of stories going around at the moment as to who’s available for each team so we won’t know until we actually face them.

 

“Finland have some quality players who play in the top divisions in Italy and Spain, which are two of the toughest leagues in Europe, and with a home crowd they will be tough to open with.

 

“We have obviously looked at their games from the summer and have also looked at their players playing for their clubs but the Fins have a new coach from the summer so Sunday must be about how well we play ourselves.

 

“It all comes down to how we perform. 

 

"Winning those three home games at home is crucial but so is performing well.

 

“If we can perform well in what I understand will be three sell out crowds then that will put us in a very strong position.”

 

Britain welcome the return of Commonwealth bronze medallist Kristy Lavin, who was crucial to their successful promotional campaign in 2007, but it is another new face in the camp that Clark has highlighted as a key addition, assistant coach Ken Shields, the Canadian hired by British Basketball last month.

 

He said: “Ken is one of the most experienced and knowledgeable coaches in the world. 

 

"We can only hope to get better.

 

“He has a relentless pursuit of perfection and expectation and that has generated a new level of commitment from the players.

 

“He has been impressed with what he has seen and they have been too and they are responding to him.

 

“Ken’s had a huge impact, he has raised the level of expectation which we hope to carry through to the games. 

 

"Any success achieved this January we will know in no small part it will be because we have Ken.”

 

Clark has taken a 12-player squad with him to Finland. 

 

Charlotte Stoddart and Leah Dehaan will rejoin the team in Sheffield ahead of next Tuesday’s game in Sheffield against Bosnia and Herzegovina.

 

Clark said: “We want to ensure we have enough cover for the campaign as you always pick up a few niggly injuries. 

 

"Both Charlotte and Leah have worked extremely hard but both are obviously very young so it’s good experience.

 

“I’m very impressed with the commitment shown by this squad for this time of year but I’m not surprised. 

 

"A core of people who have been with us for three programmes and every time they come they show commitment.”