Belgium manager Jacques Ledure knows his team needs a "big performance" to have any hope of defeating the Czech Republic on Friday.

The Belgians lost their opening Group C game against the Czechs, who are one of the favourites to win the pool, 85-67.

Axel Hervelle's 24 points and 11 rebounds led Belgium to a 91-80 victory over Russia in their second game 91-80, but they then fell to a surprise 73-59 defeat to Hungary.

"It will be a very difficult game, the Czechs are in my opinion the best team we have played against," Ledure said to PA Sport.

"I don't know how the game is going to go. We beat Russia and lost against Hungary, so it's difficult to say.

"But if we play like we did against Russia, we should have a chance. We have to produce a big performance for it to be possible for us to win."

Qualification to the knockout part of the tournament may well rest on a win against the Czechs, as they still have remaining return fixtures against the Russians and Hungarians.

Ledure said: "If we win tomorrow we will have a good chance of qualifying but we will have to win in Russia and Hungary, which will be very difficult.

"We are not the best team in the group. In basketball, you never know."