That the match can be decisive is understood when reading the rest of Sweden's program, on Friday the reigning European champions Spain and on Sunday Belarus.
One in the group goes directly to the quarterfinals, the second and third end up in a qualifier.
- It not only has to do with points, it is also about self-confidence, you can go in and win the first match, it obviously feels good, says Loyd.
Injuries disrupt both teams
There has been a lot of talk about Sweden's injury problems, with three long players outside the squad, Amanda Zahui, Regan Magarity and Louice Halvarsson.
A fact that applies to an even greater extent to Slovakia, which before the European Championship finals lost two of its top three scorers from the qualifiers.
Sweden and Slovakia have met in the European Championship context twice in the 2010s, in the European Championship 2013 the Swedish victory was 75-72 and in the playoffs in 2015 the Slovakians took revenge, winning 72-69.
- It will be great fun, this is what we have been waiting for for almost two years, says Kalis Loyd.