USA and Australia have established themselves as the clear favourites heading into today's quarter-finals at the under-19 world basketball championships.
Both teams emerged from the second round of pool play with perfect 6-0 records, although they were pushed in Wednesday's final group encounters.
Australia needed 15 final quarter pointsfrom captain Matthew Dellavedova to subdue Croatia in a match that decided top spot in Group F. The win earned Australia an easier task in today's quarter-finals, when they will face France, the fourth qualifier from Group E.
Australia, which won the event in 2003, must now be considered the main threat to the USA. "I think we've been underrated for a long time, so we went to make a statement that we're here to win this thing," Emus forward Cody Ellis said following the 79-74 win.
But Croatia, who face giant killers Puerto Rico, cannot be written off, warned Ellis. "They're a really good team, they have got real good height, really good shooters, and they'll be one of the teams up there."
The surprise absentee from the quarter-final draw is second-ranked European nation Lithuania, who paid the price for an upset first round defeat by Puerto Rico.
The eastern Europeans pushed USA all the way in their final pool game before losing by seven points - the smallest margin of victory the Americans have posted at the tournament - to be eliminated on a countback with France.
The Americans, who are searching for their first title since 1991, should have little trouble dispatching North American neighbours Canada, who limped into the playoffs with a 3-3 record at the expense of a disappointing Spanish side.
The first match of the day could well be the best, with South American powerhouse Argentina taking on European champions Greece.
QUARTER-FINALS
* 1.30pm Greece v Argentina.
* 4pm France v Australia.
* 6.15pm Puerto Rico v Croatia.
* 8.30pm USA v Canada.
