Helsinki has turned into a genuine fortress for the Susijengi. Close to 12,500 packed the Veikkaus Arena in July to watch Finland beat Lithuania, and the same wall of noise is waiting for Sweden on Thursday evening. Lauri Markkanen headlines a squad that also carries Mikael Jantunen, Olivier Nkamhoua, Elias Valtonen and the veteran shooter Sasu Salin, so there is size, spacing and a clear first option to lean on whenever the game tightens. Sitting at 4-2 in Group L, the hosts know these are exactly the games they cannot afford to drop. Sweden deserve respect all the same. They opened the campaign with three losses and then reeled off three straight wins to reach the Second Round, and the named squad includes Bobi Klintman, Pelle Larsson and Simon Birgander, which is real quality across the frontcourt and the wing. The counterweight is history and star power: Finland have won four of the last five meetings between the neighbours going back to 1999, and nobody in the Swedish group matches what Markkanen brings on both ends. Seven and a half points looks like a fair meeting point between the head to head record and the improved Swedish form, and the home side should have enough to clear it.