MONTEVIDEO (FIBA Americas Championship/FIBA Basketball World Cup) - Uruguay are having to play a waiting game before the start of their preparations for the FIBA Americas Championship in Venezuela.

Coach Pablo Lopez won't know about the availability of two veterans, Martin Osimani and Nicolas Mazzarino, for some time.

Osimani, who turns 32 on 22 May, had a shoulder operation last month while the 37-year-old Mazzarino won't make a decision until after the Italian Lega A play-offs.

The experience of both would be a significant factor for a Uruguay team that needs to clinch a top-four finish in Caracas to reach the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup.

Mazzarino last represented Uruguay in 2008 at the South American Championship.

In basketball age, he is old.

Yet the 1.81m guard has maintained excellent form, something that was evident this week when his Cantu coach Andrea Trinchieri played him 37 minutes in a 73-71 triumph over Banco di Sardegna Sassari.

The result cut Sassari's lead to 2-1 in the best-of-seven Quarter-Final series.

"The decision belongs to Nicolas," said Lopez.

"If it were up to me, I would put both arms around him and bring him."

Osimani, a 1.95m shooting guard who has played at the last four FIBA Americas Championships with his national side, wants to play in Venezuela but knows his appearances depends on his recovery.

"I don't want to drop out of the team without first giving as much fight as a I can," he said of his rehabilitation.

"I will have time to go down (withdraw from consideration).

"I still have the enthusiasm to arrive."

In Caracas, Uruguay will compete in Group A against Puerto Rico, Canada, Jamaica and Brazil.

The top four sides will advance to the second phase and meet the best four from Group B, which includes Venezuela, Argentina, Mexico, the Dominican Republic and Paraguay.

The four teams that have the best records advance to the Semi-Finals of the FIBA Americas Championship and clinch places in the World Cup.

FIBA