SVETI MARTIN (FIBA EuroBasket 2017) - There might not be better motivation for players on Croatia's extended candidate list than coach Aleksandar 'Aco' Petrovic's promise of FIBA EuroBasket 2017 training camp spots still being up for grabs.

"I can just say I will be looking for a playmaker, players in position two and three and an inside player. Virtually all positions will be in the game."Aco PetrovicAco Petrovic

The 58-year-old playcaller, who presided over the team's successful showing at the Men's Olympic Basketball Tournament in Rio de Janeiro last year, was forced to broaden his horizon after it became apparent that players like Luka Babic, Mario Hezonja, Ante Zizic and Ivica Zubac will not be able to help the national team this summer.

Having already started preparations with a 12-player selection, originally intended as the reserve team, coach Petrovic will get a chance to evaluate potential replacements at the Borislav Stankovic Cup 2017 in China, where Croatia will take on Chinese, Egyptian and German representatives.

"Due to the recent absences, our Chinese tour will get a lot more important, with three or maybe even four of these players, depending on the situation, joining the preparations for FIBA EuroBasket 2017 with the A squad," the head coach of the Croatian national team said. "I wouldn't really like to call this a reserve squad, as this group will provide us with players who will join our main training camp."

Featuring former youth standouts and borderline national team players in the past like Tomislav Zubcic, Dominik Mavra, Domagoj Bosnjak, Ivan Ramljak and Henrik Sirko, the roster gives coach Petrovic a number of different ways he can go.

"When we talk about the four names, we will let it be decided at practice and during games. I can just say I will be looking for a playmaker, players in position two and three and an inside player – so virtually all positions will be in the game," the tactician explained, outlining his plans.

"At the same time, this tour is going to be extremely important looking ahead to the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 European Qualifiers and each of the players will have a chance to earn national team consideration moving forward."

The national team's main training camp, featuring all candidates for FIBA EuroBasket 2017, will begin on July 27 in Sveti Martin, where the 12-player squad on the extended candidate list is currently getting ready for the China trip.

Croatia have been drawn to a tough and evenly-matched Group C in Cluj-Napoca, also featuring defending FIBA EuroBasket 2015 champions Spain, as well as Czech Republic, Hungary, Montenegro and tournament co-hosts Romania.

FIBA