Tall Blacks coach Nenad Vucinic has a lot on his mind.
In no particular order there is Pero Cameron's foot injury, Rick Rickert's citizenship application, the slim possibility Sean Marks might don the black strip one more time, and he has a team to name.
And no-one will let him forget his imminent duel with former national coach Tab Baldwin when the Tall Blacks play Lebanon at the world championships in Turkey next month.
It is plenty to digest but the picture should be clearer after a three-day trial beginning in Auckland tomorrow.
Vucinic will cut his initial squad of 21 to 12 and competition for places is expected to be intense.
"Every coach goes into a trial with ideas about who are the favourites to make the team," Vucinic told the Otago Daily Times.
"But I've been involved with the Tall Blacks for 10 years, either as a coach or assistant coach, and there is always someone who surprises us. So there's definitely still some spots open for the players."
When Vucinic sits down on Sunday night and scribbles down the chosen 12, he would dearly love to scrawl Cameron's name.
Time, though, is running out for experienced campaigner.
He has been sidelined for the best part of a year with a chronic foot injury but has been working hard with fitness trainer Claire Dallison.
"His foot is improving ... but it is a little bit early to judge," Vucinic said.
"He is really keen to make the team but it really has to be a medical decision."
Cameron was a key member of the team that shocked almost everybody by finishing fourth at the 2002 world championships in Indianapolis.
Marks was also part of that incredible team and Vucinic has been leaning on the classy centre to end his self-imposed international exile and return for one last run with the Tall Blacks.
But he is still recovering from shoulder surgery and looks to be losing the race to be fit.
"Right now I would say it is more unlikely than it is likely. But there is still a small chance."
As for Rickert's citizenship application, Vucinic was unsure whether it would be through in time.
Only one restricted (non NZ-born) player is allowed to play at the championships, so the US-born Rickert will compete with Casey Frank for a spot in the squad if his papers come through in time.
The Tall Blacks have some talented players but they will need all the help they can get just to get through the preliminary stage of the championships and reach the round of 16.
They have been drawn in group D with defending champion Spain, European powerhouses Lithuania and France, Canada and the Baldwin-coached Lebanon.
"There was never going to be an easy group. So I don't think we were dealt bad cards, but I don't think they're particularly good, either," Vucinic said.
It was difficult to say how many wins the Tall Blacks would need to reach the round of 16, he said.
Two might be enough, but three should definitely do the trick. The Tall Blacks have some warm-up games before their opening match of the championships, against Lithuania on August 28.
While Vucinic can not wait to see how his side will go against the best teams in the world, he is hesitant about the Lebanon game on August 31.
He was Baldwin's assistant coach for five years before taking over the reins of the Tall Blacks in 2006.
"I'm good friends with Tab and I don't think either of us is looking forward to it. It is a very difficult situation for both of us.
"We've coached against each other at club level but this is a different story. But once the day comes, I'm sure we will be going after each other."
