KEY POINTS:
Australia have had a setback ahead of the Oceania basketball championship series against New Zealand.
The Boomers begin a 10-day training camp on the Gold Coast today without big man Chris Anstey.
Anstey withdrew from the 18-man squad yesterday, saying he was incapable of meeting the high physical demands of a training camp, followed by an international tour and a three-test series.
Australia are preparing for the Oceania series against the Tall Blacks on August 20, 22 and 24 in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane, for the right to appear at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. The Boomers last month won a Four Nations tournament in China against teams from Italy, Croatia and China.
South Dragons centre Matt Burston has been named as Anstey's replacement.
Australian coach Brian Goorjian, who has already had to cope with the withdrawal of stars C.J. Bruton, Matthew Nielsen and Andrew Bogut due to injury, remains focused on the task at hand.
"I'm disappointed to lose another piece of the puzzle," Goorjian said.
"New Zealand definitely has a few advantages over us that we'll have to overcome to win this series."
- NZPA
