Italy's women know the teams they will meet in qualifying games for EuroBasket 2009 in Latvia, with hard games coming up against Poland, Turkey, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Finland.

That was made official on Saturday at the draw in Venice.

What they have yet to discover, however, is who will lead them.

Italian Basketball Federation president Fausto Maifredi expects to announce the appointment of the coach soon, and the favorite for the post is Giampiero Ticchi.

"We haven't yet made it official but we will make the statement soon," Maifredi said in an interview with Basketball World News.

"The reason for this is that our number one candidate is currently coaching in Lega Due in Rimini.

"His name is Giampiero Ticchi. He is a coach that although he comes from the men's game, he has experience in coaching a women's team in Faenza several years ago."

If Ticchi does take over an Italian side that reached the quarter-final qualifying round at last year's EuroBasket Women in Chieti under the leadership of Gianni Lambruschi, he will have to devise a plan to finish first or second in a Group B.

Depending on other results, third place may also be good enough to qualify.

"The draw didn't seem to me to be an impossible task," Maifredi said.

"We have to play well in order to return to Europe's highest level. We have to point on the young players and continue to work for this aim."