French point guard Tony Parker will be rested this week because of a knee injury, but his participation at EuroBasket in not under threat, the French Basketball Federation has insisted.

The San Antonio Spurs star has a tendon problem in his right knee, but resting him is only a precaution.

"The point guard has undergone proper treatment and will be rested for a few days," read a statement by the federation.

"His participation for the rest of the preparation for the Eurobasket 2005 is absolutely not threatened."

Parker has just won his second NBA title in three seasons with the Spurs and figures to be the most important player in Claude Bergeaud's squad when they travel to Belgrade for the tournament which begins on September 16.

The French team gathered at the weekend in Alpe d'Huez to begin their preparations ahead of the competition.

Les Bleus will stay in Alpe d'Huez until the 20th before travelling to Spain and Turkey.

They will be back in France at the start of September for a tournament held in Limoges where France will take on Turkey, Ukraine and Bulgaria between September 8-10.

After this warm-up event, Bergeaud is expected to finalise his 12-man squad for the Championships.

France are in Group C and will face Greece on September 16, Bosnia-Herzegovina on the 17th and Slovenia a day after in the opening stages.