Bourges' sensational summer signing Laia Palau is hoping that a little Spanish influence can help propel the European giants to glory.

Palau left long-time club UB Barcelona in the summer in search of a new challenge and she believes she has found in France, with Bourges, one of the most famous places in the world for the women's game.

"I played in the (FIBA) EuroLeague competition for the first time last season and I knew I wanted to repeat that experience again, which is why I joined Bourges," Palau said to PA International.

"They have a great European tradition, they have the quality and a fantastic structure.

		Palau made her EuroLeague Women debut last year with Barcelona

"I could have chosen to stay in Spain and move to Valencia with Ros Casares, but then I thought why not move further away, so here I am."

She's not kidding about a winning tradition.

The three-time European Champions return to the EuroLeague with high hopes of repeating the title success achieved in 1997, '98 and 2001.

"We have the pressure to win," admitted Palau.

"The club's history dictates that we reach the highest level. They expect the maximum from the players as it should be.

"We now may be considered second best behind Valenciennes, but we aim to win something this season to change this.

"Our aim is to enter the Final Four in Europe and then we will see what happens."

The EuroLeague competition is the latest addiction for the 1.78m point guard, who has played a big role in Spain's recent successes,

"It is quite an experience," admitted Palau.

"Each game is a challenge, you compete against the best players at an incredibly high level.

"It also teaches you a lesson, that there are many great players out there and you cannot drop your guard if you want to succeed."

No one is going to be taking Bourges lightly, but there is a feeling that the team may not be as strong this season because of the youth.

"We have a very young team," Palau said. "Although I am only 25, I am already considered one of the veteran players.

"The good thing about having a young team is that your rivals never know what to expect.

"We may lack experience as a group but that is also an advantage because we have young, talented players who are eager to do well."

And one of Palau's team-mates that is likely to take centre stage is Latvian forward Anete Jekabsone, another summer signing, who was last season's second highest scorer in the French league and top scorer from behind the three-point arc.

"She is a machine," said Palau.

"She is set to be one of our reference points.

"Then we have the Serbia & Montenegro centre Nina Njedov who is just a phenomenal  player."

No player can make it all happen like Palau, though, whether it's hitting game-winning shots or coming through in the face of adversity.

Spanish stars play with fire, and Palau is usually red hot in that respect.

"I think they have brought me here to add the Spanish fighting spirit to this team," said Palau.

"The passion of basketball that I have shown with the national team, that is what I believe they want me to give."

		Palau was in great form during the Olympics

Palau was in the Spain team that fought back from a huge fourth-quarter deficit in the bronze medal game at the 2003 European Championships in Greece against Poland to win and qualify for the Athens Games.

She had a team-high 18 points in that game, and it marked the first time a Spanish women's team had qualified for an Olympic Games.

She followed that sublime performance in Athens.

Her buzzer-beating shot against the Czech Republic to send the game to overtime may have been the shot of the tournament.

Spain went on to triumph in that game and reach the quarter-finals. "I know I still have to consolidate myself as a player," said Palau.

"The last two years have been crucial for my career and finally the work that I have done for many years is starting to pay off."

Following the busy summer with the national team in the Olympic Games, where Spain finished sixth, Palau makes her league debut this weekend with Bourges.

"I was physically and mentally exhausted after the Olympics," admitted Palau.

"I was able to rest for 15 days before joining Bourges for the pre-season and I feel fit and ready to go.

"We have won all of our pre-season games with the exception of one, so we are optimistic.

"I am aware that each game for me is going to prove a challenge, because I don't know much about the rival teams or French players."

But Palau, who is set to be play a starring role in Spain's national team in the future, is now focusing in succeeding with the Loire Valley based club.

"Bourges believe they have made a good signing by bringing me here and I am not going to disappoint them," said Palau.

Bourges make their debut in the EuroLeague in Slovakia against Delta Kosice on November 3.