Ireland captain Sean Flood believes the confidence derived from November's home wins against Azerbaijan and Kosovo will act as a springboard as the side head into a crucial concluding double-header in the 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup pre-qualifying campaign.
Losses against Switzerland and Kosovo in Ireland's opening Group A games made November fixtures must-win affairs, with Mark Keenan's charges defeating Azerbaijan 91-67 and Kosovo 91-85 in Dublin.
Ireland, who occupy second spot in Group A, face table-toppers Switzerland in Fribourg on Thursday and then make the long trip to Baku to take on Azerbaijan on Sunday.
The group winners automatically advance to qualifying proper, with the best second-ranked team from the three groups also progressing.
Luxembourg and Armenia currently edge out Ireland for that coveted spot, while Ireland's record against the bottom team in their four-team group will be discarded as the other pools each contain just three teams.
Speaking in Switzerland on Tuesday, Flood said: "We're very excited. Meeting up yesterday, there was a great sense of enthusiasm to get back to it.
"We had a great November window, and we said 'Two more, and we have the opportunity to do that this week and progress forward in the competition'.
"We've played Switzerland a lot over the last three or four years, and we're probably due a win at this stage.
"They've got us the last couple of times, but it's a game we're familiar with, and we know they're very talented and very disciplined."
Former captain Kyle Hosford (above) has come out of retirement and the 35-year-old UCC Demons player is set to feature for Ireland for the first time since 2022, a welcome boost, given the injury absences of Taiwo Badmus, Paul Dick, Roy Downey and Aidan Igiehon.
"We're going to miss the likes of Taiwo, Paul, Roy, and Aidan, who were part of the last window and previous windows as well," Flood admitted.
"But it's a welcome boost to have Kyle back this week,"
"He's someone who has been part of the senior international set-up for probably the last 12 years.
"He's tough, brings leadership, and he's someone who won't be scared in difficult moments."
2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 pre-qualifiers:
Switzerland v Ireland, Thursday 20 February, 18:30
Azerbaijan v Ireland, Sunday 23 February, 13:00
Ireland squad: Adrian O'Sullivan (Irish Guide Dogs Ballincollig @MTU), Conor Quinn (Belfast Star), David Lehane, Kyle Hosford, James Hannigan (UCC Demons), John Carroll (EJ Sligo All-Stars), Jordan Blount (Flexachem KCYMS), Matt Treacy (Snaefell, Iceland), Neal Quinn (Aix Maurienne Savoie Basket, France), Rapolas Buivydas (Garveys Tralee Warriors), Seán Flood (London Lions, United Kingdom), Sean Jenkins (Griffith College Éanna)
