Opals, Brazil to clash before Olympics

The Opals, Australia's women's basketball team, will warm up for the Beijing Olympics with a two-game series against Brazil next month, it was announced on Wednesday.

The Opals will field a full-strength side to tackle Brazil on July 28 in Wollongong and again two days later in Sydney.

Brazil, ranked fourth in the world, claimed the final spot in Beijing after winning the FIBA Qualifying Tournament in Spain last week.

Basketball Australia chief executive Scott Derwin said the series against Brazil will allow the Opals a stiff test prior to the Beijing Games in August.

"It is a major coup for Australian basketball to have the second- and fourth-ranked women's teams in the world playing in the country so close to the Beijing Games," Derwin said.

"It's Lauren Jackson, Penny Taylor and a full strength Opals side going up against a world-class opponent in our own back yard. I'm looking forward to it."

The 12-player Opals squad for the Olympics is expected to be announced in early July.