BAMBERG (FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament) - German national team guard Demond Greene is fully confident that a foot fracture which will have him in a cast for the next four weeks will not keep him out of this summer's FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament for Men.

"I don't see any reason why I shouldn't be ready," said the Brose Baskets Bamberg shooting guard.

"I will be back and still play plenty of games during the German regular season. And I will play in the play-offs as well."

Greene, 28, admitted that he was surprised to see published estimates that he will miss 10 weeks because of the left foot injury.

"I hope to be back in five or six weeks. Doctors always want to be on the safe side. So maybe that's where the 10 weeks came from."

Greene missed five months of last season because of a broken right foot in December. But that injury was much more serious and complicated, and he was back in time for the German BBL play-offs and was fit enough to play at the EuroBasket 2007.

Greene said his left foot had hurt him for the last few weeks and continued to get worse. He mentioned it could have had to do with the plate protecting his right foot being taken out just before this Christmas.

"That could be. Maybe I just put more weight on it since the other foot was hurting a bit after getting the plate out."

Bamberg are expected to go out and pick up another shooting guard for the time without Greene.

Germany were drawn into Group B of the July 14-20 Qualifying Tournament along with New Zealand and Cape Verde.

FIBA