Estonia captain Martin Muursepp has bowed to public pressure and confirmed that he will play in the national team's additional EuroBasket 2005 qualifying matches in August and September.

The talismanic 31-year-old had asked coach Tiit Sokk for time to decide whether or not he would take part after completing a gruelling season with club side CSKA Moscow.

However, after sealing a move to new side UNICS Kazan, Muursepp is ready to try to help his country qualify for the European championships which take place in Serbia & Montenegro in September.

"I will play, I cannot let my fans down," Muursepp, who will probably join the squad in the last week of July, told Eesti Paevaleht.

"People come to up to me even on the street and ask me to play for the team."

Alba Berlin shooting guard Tanel Tein is finally back in shape after a long season in Germany and will also join the team for training.

But Sokk has fitness concerns over Valmo Kriisa, who has an injured hand, while Asko Paade and Gregor Arbet (both knee) and Heiko Niidas have all been unable to train recently.

Estonia will play the first of two training matches this week when they host England in Tallinn.

The EuroBasket additional qualifiers will tip-off on August 19 when Estonia face the Czech Republic.