It's not like Canada hasn't been in this situation before at the Americas Olympic qualifying tournament.

With a win over Argentina in one of tonight's semi-finals, Canada will have sewn up one of the three Olympic berths that the tournament offers. The United States will face Puerto Rico in the other semi-final.

The Canadians were in the same position in San Juan four years ago at the same tournament, needing a semi-final win over the hometown team from Puerto Rico to qualify for 2000 Olympics in Sydney. Canada prevailed 83-71.

Featuring a lineup that contains a good mix of veteran leadership and youthful enthusiasm, Canada hopes the result tonight against Argentina will be just as satisfying.

"I don't know if this team is as talented or primed as the team in '99 was," said Canadian point guard Steve Nash, who was also on the squad four years ago. "But for some reason this team has a lot of toughness. We've beaten some awfully good teams and we've stuck together with a pretty new group."

Even if Canada loses tonight, it will still have one more shot at gaining an Olympic spot with a win in tomorrow night's game for third place between the two losers of the semi-finals. The gold medal game will also be played tomorrow night.

"I just want them to have fun," is the counsel Nash said he is providing his teammates heading into the playoffs."Enjoy yourselves, work hard, do what you've been doing and just let everything that we've done, and that they've done all summer . . . pay off on Saturday [today]. If we lose, we lose.

"But if we do go out there and play the way we're capable, we won't have any regrets."