France international Cyril Julian has thanked his team-mates for welcoming him back into the team.

Julian, who turned down the chance to represent Les Bleus before the summer to dedicate time to his club, was recalled by Claude Bergeaud last week to replace out-of-form Thierry Rupert in the middle of the Euro 2005 qualifying campaign.

"This is not easy, I came back with the aim of being humble and with a little apprehension," Julian told L'Equipe.

"I knew that the other players would pay particular attention to me because my return was not planned.

"I was not with them right from the start but now I am."

Julian was accepted by the other players more quickly than he had anticipated and played for a few minutes of their 85-65 win over Poland on Wednesday in Paris' Bercy arena, which marked his 112nd cap.

"I felt it was like my first cap," Julian added.

"The players are good and they integrated me very well, that's great.

"Claude has added his own touch and it's not the same mentality as before.

"This is like a family, a little bit like rugby, and it suits me."

A win over Slovenia on Saturday would be a big step towards qualification as France currently lie one point behind them in second place.

But the Slovenians are the only side to have beaten Bergeaud's troops so far, winning 77-61 in the opening game on September 8.