ANKARA (FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 European Qualifiers) - Turkey return to Ankara for their opening game of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 European Qualifiers Second Round looking to avoid an upset at home against a severely weakened Montenegro team.

Turkey's two victories in the third window earlier this summer both came in the country's capital and Ufuk Sarica's team will once again play in the Ankara Arena when they take on the Montenegrins on Friday. The Turks' second Group I game in the fourth window will come on Monday at European champions Slovenia.

Turkey's first game of the qualifying last November took place in Bursa. After three straight road games, Turkey beat Ukraine 80-66 and Sweden 77-52 at home in Ankara in June and July.

The Turks have traditionally played well in their own backyard, reaching the Final of the FIBA EuroBasket 2003 and the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2010 on home soil. They did, however, get bounced in the Round of 16 of the EuroBasket 2017 in Istanbul. Still, the players know their energetic fans give them a major boost.

Ankara Arena was a good home court in the third window with two wins and the hope is those fans can lead the hosts to a win over Montenegro to open the Second Round in style.

"It is a big advantage to play the games in front of our fans. We have a good synergy with the fans in Ankara," said Semih Erden, who was on the 2010 Turkey World Cup team that played its Group Phasein the same Ankara Arena.

Montenegro head coach Zvezdan Mitrovic, for his part, is well aware of the challenge of playing the Turks in front of their fans.

"We are playing on their home court, which is always hot as hell. We'll do our best to prepare for it," said Mitrovic, whose team is 3-3 heading into the Second Round of Qualifiers - even on record with Ukraine, while Spain top the group at 6-0. Turkey and Latvia are even at 4-2 and Slovenia are 2-4. 

A familiar face returns as Ersan Ilyasova lines up for Turkey for the first time since FIBA EuroBasket 2015 

Turkey will have a very strong lineup against Montenegro as veteran Ersan Ilyasova joins the team after fellow NBA players Cedi Osman and Furkan Korkmaz made their European Qualifiers debut in June. New to the team in the third window was the naturalized American point guard Scottie Wilbekin, who averaged 9.5 points, 3.5 assists, 1.5 rebounds and 1.5 steals over two games.

"I'm very excited to be part of the national team again and was very happy when I was invited," said Ilyasova, who last played for Turkey at EuroBasket 2015. "It is always an honor for me to wear the national team jersey."

Turkey are 2-0 in the Qualifiers with naturalized point guard Scottie Wilbekin - thanks in large part to his great energy

Turkey picked up two wins in preparation for this window. In a four-team tournament in Germany, they dominated Germany 100-79 as Korkmaz and Osman both topped 20 points. And then against Czech Republic, they came back from a 23-point deficit early in the third quarter to win 89-80 with Osman and Wilbekin each nailing five three-pointers in scoring 24 points apiece.

Meanwhile, the build-up to the fourth window has been anything but rosy for Montenegro's Mitrovic.

NBA star Nikola Vucevic was not available and 19-year-old talent Dino Radoncic was ruled out as he recovers from mononucleosis while the just-turned 18-year-old prospect Jovan Kljajic is dealing with an injury. Mitrovic originally called on centers Marko Todorovic and Milko Bjelica as well but neither will be out there against Turkey and then on September 17 at home against Ukraine.

Montenegro's Bojan Dubljevic is trying to shake off an Achilles tendon injury 

On top of that, Bojan Dubljevic, Nemanja Radovic and Nemanja Djurisic all did not join the team camp until September 10, missing Montenegro's two warm-up games in France - an 83-66 loss to France and an 87-76 defeat to Greece .

"Now I'm here, hoping I can help the team. Not sure how much, though, because my tendon is still bothering me, but I will give it everything I've got," said Dubljevic who is fighting Achilles tendon concern.

"We aren't surrendering ahead of our game in Ankara. Turkey are a serious team, they have been preparing for us for a long time now, for a month. We'll go and see where we stand."

FIBA