Just as Pepu Hernandez's Spaniards were walking off the Green Arena court following practice Thursday, it was Dirk Bauermann's German team which was next on the schedule to work out. But both coaches tried to emphasise that their teams are not thinking about each other yet.

"You are talking about the big game (against Germany), but we have five big games," Hernandez said. "Every team we play against we're going to have to play the same way. And it will be important to win every game. But we have to improve mentally and respect every team."

Bauermann meanwhile told his troops right off to forget about Spain - actually talking to them about it following Tuesday's blowout 84-47 loss at the hands of Greece in the final of the Stankovic Cup.

"I told the team after the Greece game that the one thing they cannot pay attention to is talk about the Spain game," Bauermann said. "We cannot look past any team. New Zealand, Panama even Angola all are very good teams that are difficult to play against and can beat big teams. Looking past anybody at this level would be a grave mistake."

Germany captain Ademola Okulaja added: "You can't overlook any team. It's nice to them (Spain). I know a lot of the players from my time there. But you can't play Japan and New Zealand (Germany's opponent Sunday) and be thinking about Spain or anybody else."

The teams have plenty of recent history. At the 2002 World Championship, Germany beat Spain in the quarter-finals. And last summer, Dirk Nowitzki and the Germans knocked out the Iberians in the semi-finals of the 2005 EuroBasket.

Most observers see Monday's game as the decider on which team finishes first or second in the group. Bauermann however said group placement isn't the only barometer for success at a tournament like this.

"You've see in the past that you can lose in the second round as group winners or advance further as the fourth place team.

Still, he admitted: "In the end though, we'd still like to finish first."

That's the goal for Spain as well, leading to an enticing Monday showdown, even if neither team wants to talk about it.