Basketball: Tough challenge for Tall Ferns against Australia

The Australian women's basketball team will field a formidable line-up in a world qualifying match against New Zealand at Stadium Southland tonight.

The Opals arrived in Invercargill on Wednesday night and trained at the game venue yesterday before attending a mayoral reception with the Tall Ferns.

Despite injuries to several key individuals, they have still named four players from the United States' WNBA and two European League players.

Ranked No 2 in the world behind the United States, the Opals have just returned from a successful European tour where they won seven of their nine games.

New Zealand have never won a game against Australia, but Opals head coach Jan Stirling said her team were not expecting a walkover.

"We are taking on the New Zealand team on their home soil," she said.

"New Zealand are always a tough proposition and we will be focused on the task at hand. We respect New Zealand and to underestimate them is fraught with danger."

Several Opals have missed the series because of injury, including star-in-the-making Lauren Jackson.

Game two is in Christchurch tomorrow, with a decider, if needed, the following day.

Just over 1000 tickets have been sold for tonight's match, but stadium staff are hoping to sell more during the day. The series winners will qualify for next year's world championships.

Tall Ferns: Belinda Colling, Megan Compain, Rebecca Cotton, Gina Farmer, Sally Farmer, Donna Loffhagen, Julie Ofsoski, Charmian Smith, Antonia Solomon, Renee Wharekura, Angelina Yates.

Australia: Suzy Batkovic, Carla Boyd, Tracey Braithwaite, Narelle Fletcher, Jo Hill, Jae Kingi, Natalie Porter, Rachael Sporn, Penny Taylor, Jenny Whittle.

- NZPA