| 23.07.2010
Dan Clark wants to be the man to step up for the depleted Great Britain during their EuroBasket qualifying campaign.
At last year's EuroBasket in Poland, the Brits were spoilt for choice among their big men with Robert Archibald, Joel Freeland and Andy Betts all in front of the impressive young Clark in the queue.
But those three are missing this summer for a variety of reasons, and the 21-year-old Club Estudiantes forward is ready to take his chance.
"It's unfortunate that they are injured, but it's an opportunity you have to take and that's the way this business works," Clark told Basketball World News.
"I had a personal meeting with the coach - we all did - and he made it quite clear what he wants us to go out there and do.
"I'm feeling confident. I got quite a few more minutes this year at club level in Spain and I'm happy with that and want to bring that onto the international level now.
Despite the wealth of talent ahead of him last year, Clark had been so impressive during the warm-ups that coach Chris Finch felt obliged to take him to the EuroBasket, and Clark believes that experience will now pay dividends.
"You just feel more comfortable," he said. "You walk in here and know everyone so you can just get on with it straight off the bat and it's a lot easier.
"There are lots of guys around my age this year, young guys, it's different this year but it's also good to have the young guys in doing their thing."
Last year was GB's first ever EuroBasket, something they want to build on as they keep their eyes on the prize of playing on home turf at the 2012 London Olympics.
To make it to Lithuania next year, they will need to make it through Group B, where they will face Hungary, FYR of Macedonia, Ukraine and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
"I think we have a very good chance of qualifying," Clark added. "All the teams we have to play are good teams but we just have to do our best. We need a bit of luck in some situations but I think if we play hard we'll be fine."
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