The Finns raised eyebrows with their performances in Division A last summer and now, with the return to fitness of Teemu Rannikko, they should be even more formidable.

Henrik Dettmann's team has plenty of cause for optimism before clashes with the French and the Italians.

"He has a phenomenal ability to make players around him better," Dettmann says.

"In order to be the best player on court, he even doesn't have to score."

Finland coach Henrik Dettmann has a reason to smile with the return to action of Teemu Rannikko

Had Rannikko not suffered a heel injury just after Christmas in 2007, who knows what Finland would have done last year.

When Finland earned promotion to Division A in 2007, Rannikko was the leading scorer of the team at 16.7 points per game.

He also handed out four assists per contest.

Indeed, a look back at the recent history of the guard shows why Dettmann is thrilled to be getting the diminutive playmaker back.

Before transferring to BC Khimki of the Moscow Region, Rannikko played for Olimpia Ljubljana and in 2006-07 he averaged 14.6 points and 3.3 assists in the Euroleague.

In the Adriatic League in January and February of 2007, he had a stretch of four games averaging an eye-popping 29.8 points and 5.5 assists per game.

In one Euroleague game in March against Partizan Belgrade, Rannikko showed his explosiveness by racking up 26 points.

He earned MVP of the Week honours after that game.

The first season (2007-08) with Khimki was injury-plagued, though, with the heel injury ultimately forcing him to sit out the EuroBasket qualifiers.

Rannikko is back on court this season and playing alongside international stars like Jorge Garbajosa of Spain, Carlos Delfino of Argentina, Maciej Lampe of Poland and American Milt Palacio.

During the Last 16 stage of the Eurocup, Rannikko averaged 7.3 points in limited playing time, showing flashes of his Ljubljana-form.

In one game against Panellinios, he buried four out of six shots from behind the arc on his way to 14 points.

Rannikko made 13 of his 22 field goal attempts during the Last 16 stage and was a perfect eight of eight at the free throw line.

"Teemu showed that he belongs to the European elite of point guards, when he played healthy in Ljubljana," Dettmann says.

"Throughout his professional career he has played in all types of guard roles.

"In Ljubljana, they saw that you get most out of Teemu at the point guard position."

What's also encouraging for Finland has been the development of Petteri Koponen, a player who will this week compete for Virtus BolognaFiere when the Italian club hosts the EuroChallenge Final Four.

Koponen was the first Finn to be picked in the first round of NBA Draft when Philadelphia selected him 30th overall. They then traded his rights to Portland.

He was also the first player to be drafted straight out of the Finnish league.

Koponen returned to Finland for 2007-08 and earned MVP honours for the season while winning a second consecutive championship with Honka Playboys.

He averaged 19.0 points and 3.9 assists per game during the regular season, shooting 42.7% from three-point range.

Koponen only turned 21 on April 13 and he is having an impressive season with Virtus.

After starting the season backing up former NBA star Earl Boykins, Koponen quickly gained a role of a regular starter playing alongside Boykins.

He received praise for his defensive play, most importantly.

In the EuroChallenge, Koponen has averaged 18.4 minutes per game.

He had a season-high 17 points in a game against Galatasaray.

"Even at young age," Dettmann says, "Petteri has already shown that he can play at this level. Like Teemu, one of his strengths definitely is making other players better. But for a player of his size, he also has great quickness with serious ability to score.

"This season Petteri has been on a tough road. Coming to one of the better leagues of Europe straight from a small basketball country isn't easy. Every player has to pay his dues and prove himself all over again in new environment. That's exactly what Petteri has done. I am very pleased that he has improved all along and I am sure that his best games of season are yet to be played."

So what will it be like when Koponen and Rannikko play together?

"Normally I don't give much thought about what the coaches of opponents are thinking about us, because I feel there's enough work concentrating on our own team and improving our play," Dettmann says.

"On this occasion I can say, however, I wouldn't want to be in other coaches' shoes facing the two guards we have.

"With both Teemu and Petteri on our team, we have great depth at the guard position. Because both are strong leaders on the court and can run the team, we are able to get some rest for both of them and bring in some firepower or defensive presence from the bench, if needed."

When it's all said and done, Italy and France would be well advised not to look past Finland.