HELSINKI (FIBA EuroBasket 2017) - Finland will be going intoFIBA EuroBasket 2017 growling and with their fangs showing, as the team's head coach Henrik Dettmann looks set to have all of the Susijengi's top talent ready to put on a fight in Helsinki.

Having previously revealed a future-oriented 34-player candidate list, the 59-year-old national team playcaller trimmed the squad size to just 18 players, who will be competing for the 12 roster spots at the Susijengi training camp.

After participating in the past three FIBA EuroBasket Final Rounds as well as the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2014 in Spain, Finland will hope to cash in on their vastly improved experience, with the majority of Susijengi members already trialed and tested in a tournament setting.

"At this early point of the preparation period, we will be striving to find the tempo of international basketball and searching for our collective self-confidence stemming from togetherness."DettmannDettmann

As many as 11 of the players on the list have represented the national team in the past, featuring the likes of Petteri Koponen, Gerald Lee, Erik Murphy, Sasu Salin, Shawn Huff and Jamar Wilson, who will all start out as favorites to earn roster spots once again.

Headlining the team's youth movement is the sharpshooting 20-year-old big man sensation Lauri Markkanen, who is ready to help his national team after being selected with the 7th pick in the 2017 NBA Draft, finding his way to the storied Chicago Bulls franchise via trade.

Last year's newcomers Fiifi Aidoo and Alexander Madsen are also included among the candidates, while NCAA star Alex Murphy, who finished his senior season with Northeastern University, is the most intriguing new name in the squad.

"At this early point of the preparation period, we will be striving to find the tempo of international basketball and searching for our collective self-confidence stemming from togetherness," explained coach Detmann, the commander of the Susijengi, outlining the first goals of training camp.

One of the four FIBA EuroBasket 2017 co-hosts, Finland will take on a number of top national teams in the preparation process, including Latvia, Russia, Israel, Italy, Turkey, Nigeria and Czech Republic, getting ready for a big summer for the country's basketball community.

Helsinki will welcome Group A of the tournament, featuring France, Greece, Iceland, Poland, Slovenia and the hosts Finland themselves.

FIBA