Torres, the team's go-to-guy, will put to good use his past NBA experience when he goes face to face with the likes of Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili.

"Tony and I came into the league the same year (2001) so I have watched him with interest. Both he and Manu are great players but also great leaders for their countries," Torres said. "I want to have that same role for Venezuela and try my best to put us in a position to do well here."

The former Houston Rockets and Golden State Warriors guard won't have to carry the load on his own and will in fact be well assisted by Diaz, the team's captain, and a proven leader on the court.

After all the 38-year-old does have the most experience of any player on the national team, having come in the side at the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona, Spain.

Diaz does not set low goals for Venezuela despite a very poor run of form in their warm-up games leading up to this tournament.

"Obviously everyone already looks at Argentina, France and Serbia & Montenegro as the three teams most certain to go through to the next round," he said.

"But there is one more place for the eighth-finals and the fight for it will be very though between the three remaining teams."

In addition to a recent record that leaves little room for optimism, Venezuela were dealt a further blow when they learned that they would be without Hector Romero and Diego Guevara - both sidelined by injuries - for the duration of the tournament.

In spite of all this, the mood that emerged from the team's first training session was surprisingly positive.

And the goal of improving on their 14th place finish at the FIBA World Championship in Indianapolis four years ago is still very much one they will stick to.

"Of course we are coming into the tournament having lost 11 of our last 12 games and we are missing some influential players, but that's how it goes sometimes. We think we can turn things around and this is the competition to do it in," added Torres.