Rudy Fernandez believes Spain will go to the EuroBasket in Poland next month with a target on their backs as the team everyone else wants to beat.

The reigning world champions are among the favourites to claim gold, but the Portland Trail Blazers star knows that will only make their job more difficult as opponents raise their game in a bid to cause a high-profile upset.

But Fernandez will not use that as an excuse and believes gold can be the only target.

"I think it's the target, primarily because we are the team to beat because of what we have achieved in recent years with this team," he said.

However, Spain have been favourites before - not least two years ago when they hosted the EuroBasket and were expected to scoop gold in front of their home fans.

Instead, they lost a heartbreaker 60-59 to Russia in the final, and the memory of that has stuck with Fernandez.

"It left a sour taste to lose the gold in Madrid, but now we are ambitious again and we will go to Poland to try and win this medal," he said.

Fernandez has just come to the end of his first season in the NBA with the Trail Blazers, having averaged 10.4 points and 2.7 rebounds.

While the rigours of a full NBA season was a new challenge for the 24-year-old, he had no qualms about giving up his summer holiday to play for his country.

"It is true that it deprives us of a holiday and the NBA season is hard with 82 games and then the play-offs, that hurts you as a player, but for us the chance to play for Spain is huge," he said. "Not only that, but you get to play with friends and you spend all summer waiting to meet them again."

Fernandez played alongside Sergio Rodriguez in Portland last season, but the point guard has now been traded to the Sacramento Kings.

"Sergio helped me to adapt, not only on the court but also mentally," he said. "But I am pleased for Sergio that he has a new challenge, a new experience in Sacramento as I think that is what he wanted - a change of scenery and a chance to compete on a new team."

Spain have been drawn in Group C at the EuroBasket alongside Serbia, Slovenia and Great Britain.