To reach the Final Round in Poland, Finland must finish top of Group B ahead of France and Italy and then beat the Group A winners (Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina or Portugal) in a home-and-away tie.

With veteran point guard Teemu Rannikko back to full fitness and in the national team again after missing last year's qualifying campaign through injury, and center Hanno Mottola deciding to end his brief retirement and resume his career, there is plenty of optimism in Finland.

"From a coach's perspective, it's the best possible thing to have all the best players with us from the beginning," Finland national team boss Henrik Dettmann said.

"There is no need to speculate what we could have achieved if someone absent was with us.

"We have to find the defensive intensity and self-belief we had last summer. A year ago, every player in our team was ready to put the team ahead of individual success. That will have to be our starting point also this year."

Finland, despite Rannikko's absence, survived a brutal qualifying group that included Serbia, Bulgaria, Italy and Hungary to reach the Additional Qualifying Round.

They beat the Serbians in Vantaa and also swept their two clashes with the Hungarians.

"The way we played last summer showed that when we do all we can, we have a possibility to send top teams in the world back home with a defeat," Dettmann said. "We have a nice arena, a good home team and great opponents. It's all good - I just hope the audience will find their way to Energia Areena."

After a busy preparation period in July, Finland will open their Additional Qualifying Round campaign in France on August 8 before returning home to face the Italians on August 11 in Vantaa.

Finland suffered narrow defeats to Italy last summer, falling 88-80 in Chieti and 69-62 in Vantaa.

On August 17, the French travel to Vantaa for the second meeting between the sides before Finland fly to Porto San Giorgio to take on the Italians.

Rannikko, a free agent after spending two seasons with BC Khimki, is thrilled to be back in the national side.

He had a limited role with Khimki and is eager to show that he still has the ability to help a Finland team that has a lot of potential. Rannikko loves playing with Mottola and is also looking forward to teaming up in the Finnish backcourt with Petteri Koponen.

"Last year showed a glimpse of what this team can do," Rannikko said.

"Even though I couldn't participate because of the injury, our victory over Serbia, two tough games against Italy and a road victory in Hungary showed what we are capable of. Everything is possible."

After fully recovering from an injury that ruined his 2007-08 season and kept him out last summer, Rannikko found it difficult to get minutes in a talented Khimki side.

"My years with BC Khimki were quite an experience," Rannikko said.

"I had the opportunity to play in great, great company. We went to the Superleague Finals twice, Eurocup finals once and won the Russian cup once.

"In two years with Khimki, I had the possibility to play in just 30 to 40 games, which was about half as much as I had planned. Despite that, I have nothing negative to say about the team, about Moscow or about Russia in general. I enjoyed my time with the club and with the excellent players we had in the team."

Rannikko, 28, has a lot in common with Koponen.

Both are guards, and both departed Finland as youngsters for Italy.

When Rannikko left at the age of 19, he joined Reggio Emilia.

"I remember myself how hard it was to leave my home country at such a young age and to go professional," Rannikko said.

"I tried to support Petteri as much as I could and I think he did quite all right."