ANKARA (FIBA World Championship for Women) - After years of preparation and planning, host nation Turkey will take to the court at the FIBA World Championship for Women with Tugba Palazoglu aiming high.

The livewire guard is only thinking about attaining the ultimate success as Turkey prepare to tip-off their Group B campaign against France.

"If you ask me, let's just go and take the title," insisted the veteran.

"We're competing at the World Championship for the first time and doing it at home provides some advantages and some disadvantages.

"We want to add another success to our (respective) resumes and do something that no one has ever done before."

It is unsurprising that Palazoglu is itching to get started and unleash her trademark energy which she never fails to brings to the table.

Turkey are blessed with a glut of experienced backcourt campaigners - Palazoglu is complimented by the likes of Birsel Vardarli Demirmen, Isil Alben and Esmeral Tuncluer

Their frontcourt has the legendary Nevriye Yilmaz as the centrepiece, but much will be dependent upon how newcomer Lara Sanders performs - while rookie young guns Tilbe Senyurek and Cansu Koksal will give an exciting glimpse into the future.

Meanwhile, Sandrine Gruda looks to be the in-form player for Les Bleues after recording a mesmerising game in preparation against USA and she can expect some close defensive attention.

Celine Dumerc will orchestrate the offense on a floor where France claimed their place for the 2012 Olympics - one which ultimately resulted in them making the Final in London several weeks later.

French dreams of another podium finish will hinge on how their quartet of arrivals adjust to the big stage and whether their eye-catching success over the world champions last week will instil added belief.

It's a huge game for both teams, with each nation avoiding each other two years ago in the British capital, but France claiming a 57-49 success in the EuroBasket Women Semi-Finals last year. There is of course a first global tournament at the helm for Valerie Garnier to take into account.

There are similarities for Canada who will be determined to avoid any slip-ups when they face first-timers Mozambique. They will no doubt keen to get onto the front foot quickly ahead of what look to be immeasurably tougher games lying in wait.

Like France, they also have good memories of Ankara Arena, sealing an Olympic spot of their own back in 2012. They also have a coach making her debut on a global platform in Lisa Thomaidis and several new faces too.

Debutantes Nirra Fields, Katherine Plouffe and Miah-Marie Langlois inject a fresh feel – as does teenager Kia Nurse who showed her talent last year in Xalapa at the FIBA Americas Championship for Women. Solid as ever, the burning question remains whether Canada have the firepower and clutch-shot makers to get past France or Turkey.

Mozambique also competed in that very same 2012 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament for Women, but no longer have the legendary Clarisse Machanguana to rely on. They do however have the ever reliable presence of Deolinda Ngulela in the backcourt, the very capable Leia Dongue in the paint and a respected play-caller in Nasir Sale.

With nothing to lose, the African side can enjoy the ride, focus on being highly competitive and seek to deliver what would be a monumental surprise should they manage to claim a victory.

FIBA