LUANDA (FIBA Basketball World Cup) - Leonel Paulo's club campaign may have been cut short due to an injury, but he is adamant he'll be back on time to battle for a place in Angola's roster for the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup.

Paulo fractured his right hand earlier this month during the Final Four opener of the BAI Basket - Angola's national league - between his Petro de Luanda side and city rivals Inter Clube de Luanda.

The 28-year-old collided with an opponent as he drove to the basket and was ruled out for the remainder of the season, which runs until late May.

Paulo is known for his athleticism, quickness and aggressiveness in attacking the rim, skills that Angola will need when they play their Group Phase games in Gran Canaria along with Australia, Slovenia, Korea, Mexico and Lithuania.

"If coach Paulo Macedo needs me, he knows I'll never refuse to wear the colours of my country," Paulo told FIBA.com.

Macedo is to announce the preliminary roster by the end of the BAI Basket season.

Paulo, who helped Angola claim their 11th African continental title last summer in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire, says he will be ready for the World Cup preparations after being advised to rest for 25 days.

"Like me, a number of Angolan players are eager for a call-up. I am sure I'll be back and ready to help the national team," said the the 1.94m guard/forward looking for a second appearance in FIBA's flagship event, after having featured at the 2010 FIBA World Championship in Turkey.

As for their Group D opponents, Paulo warns that while Angola have chances of advancing to the next round, they should not underestimate nor fear any opponent: "We are going to need to play at a high level against all opponents regardless of their positions in the (FIBA Men) ranking," he said.

"We want to finish in the top four of our group. Lithuania and Slovenia are tough opponents. We know Australia's game well. Mexico don't depend entirely on Gustavo Ayon's absence, and Korea deserve extra attention," Paulo said, pointing out that one of Angola's goals is to improve on their ninth-place finish accomplished in Japan in 2006.

If Angola finish fourth in the Group Phase, they could face the top team in Group C, which could be defending champions USA, in the Round of 16.

"First we'll focus on winning as many games as possible. We'll face one game at a time, then we'll think about the next round," Paulo explained.

"If we are to face the USA in the next round, we have no problem with it. It won't be the first time, and it is always encouraging to come against the best players on the planet."

As for Egypt and Senegal, who claimed the other two qualifying places from AfroBasket 2013 for Spain 2014, Paulo warns that the North African should not be judged by their rankings.

"I still don't know where Egypt got their mental force from at AfroBasket after losing three games in a row. What they accomplished in Abidjan should serve as a warning for their opponents in Spain. Hats off to Egypt," said the Luanda native, who also believes that "Senegal are always a danger team, especially because of their physical game."

FIBA