Czech Republic coach Michal Jezdik is aware of the importance of his side's training camp in Opava as they continue their preparation for September's EuroBasket in Belgrade.

Jezdik has been hampered by the absences of a number of players but he still believes the camp is crucial to his team's chances.

He said: "We will concentrate on physical preparation and basketball technique. It will be 50:50.

"We will go through basic strategies in defence, mostly screens with and without the ball and fast-breaks in the offence, in the basketball part of our preparation."

Squad members Maurice Whitfield, Lubos Barton, Ondrej Starosta and Stanislav Zuzak all play domestic basketball in the USA and have been unable to join up with Jezdik's squad.

Starosta is in involved in a summer league with San Antonio, while Barton and Whitfield also requested to remain in America and Zuzak did not travel after sustaining a twisted ankle in training.

Jezdik added: "I wanted to have the Dousa brothers here in Opava but they apologised after a hard season and they are in a spa right now.

"Lubos Barton and Maurice Whitfield will join the team in Nymburk next week.

"I selected two players who may be a surprise for some in Jakub Houska of Decin and a player from A Plus ZS Brno, Michal Kren.

"I would like to have players like them in my team. They have perspective, they work hard in their teams and they can be very useful for the national team in the future. We need those kinds of players."

Houska told www.basket.idnes.sk: "I had problems with an injured foot during last season. I did not play a lot so I was really surprised when coach Jezdik nominated me for this training camp.

"I have to say that I was little bit nervous after coming here but the other players are great and I have a good feeling now," added the 22-year-old.