LJUBLJANA (FIBA Basketball World Cup) - Coach Jure Zdovc had wanted his Slovenia squad to be battle tested by the time they ran onto the court in Gran Canaria to play their opening Group D game at the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup.

His wish has been granted.

On 26 August in the Gran Canaria Arena, just four days before the beginning of the Group Phase, Zdovc's Slovenians will square off against the defending champions from the United States in the last tournament warm-up clash for both sides.

The opportunity to face the Americans is almost too good to be true.

"My desire was to play another game just before the championship and we got the best possible chance to compete with the best team in the world arena, (the same venue) where will we stand up to the first five teams in the first part competition," said Zdovc.

"We'll get a taste of their willpower and also the arena, and so quickly adapt to the situation in Las Palmas (Gran Canaria).

"The fact that Slovenia is one of only four teams which will compete against the Americans points to the fact that our team has in recent years created a great reputation that we must also continue to hold."

Zdovc's squad will be the only opponents for the USA on foreign soil before the start of the World Cup, with Mike Krzyzewski's team also taking on Brazil, Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic in America before they travel to Gran Canaria.

Slovenia are expected to have a more detailed announcement about their World Cup preparations by the middle of May, at which point a preliminary squad is likely to be announced.

The Slovenians played in the Preliminary Round against the USA at both the 2006 and 2010 FIBA World Championships in Japan and Turkey, respectively.

The Americans won on both occasions: 114-95 in Sapporo and 99-77 in Istanbul.

In Group D at the World Cup, Slovenia will go up against Lithuania, Angola, Mexico, Korea and Australia.

FIBA