SEVILLA (FIBA Basketball World Cup) - Argentina star point guard Pablo Prigioni tempered expectations for his team at the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup saying the South Americans do not have the potential to be thinking about the Semi-Finals though Spain 2014 will provide a chance for the future of Argentina to shine in the present.

The 37-year-old Prigioni said Argentina are just missing too much firepower with the absences of Manu Ginobili and Carlos Delfino to be a serious threat for the podium.

"I think with Ginobili, Delfino and the complete team, we expect to fight for third place. Right now, I don't think we have enough potential in the team to think in the top four," Prigioni said in the build-up to Group B play in Sevilla, where they open against Puerto Rico on Saturday.

"Well, the golden generation is a couple of guys. We're almost done. We have so many new guys, so many young players."

Among the youngsters are Matias Bortolin, Facundo Campazzo, Marcos Delia and Tayavek Gallizzi - all 23 years and under. Some of them have the experience of playing at the 2013 FIBA Americas Championship.

"FIBA Americas is not like a World Cup or like an Olympics. Let's see how the young guys adjust to this kind of tournament. We expect that they can play good basketball and look good as a team," Prigioni said of the youngsters.

"They have to jump on the court and do their best because they're coming here to play and not sit on the bench. If Ginobili and Delfino are here, maybe some of the young guys play fewer minutes. But without them they have to jump on the court, play important minutes and play the best basketball that they can."

When asked how important their performance is for the future of Argentinean basketball, Prigioni said: "They are the future, but they are also the present. It's a big tournament for all the young guys we have. It’s going to be good experience for them."

Prigioni considers Croatia the favourites in Group B, which also includes Greece, Senegal and the Philippines.

"If you look at the talent of the players on the roster, I think Croatia is the top team in the group. I think they have the best team, the best players. For me, the favourites in the group," he offered.

Still, Prigioni and his teammates will not just roll over.

"We will try to be in the top of the group. We know it will be difficult. But we will try."

FIBA