The road to Rio will take a one-week detour in Napier this week as the Tall Blacks begin the countdown to next month's pivotal series against Australia.
With Paul Henare on Saturday naming his first squad in charge of the national team, the 14-strong group assembled in the Hawkes Bayfor a four-day camp ahead of the forthcoming European tour. But even that trip - consisting of games against Great Britain, Croatia and Slovenia - is little more than an appetiser for the main course.
"We will be hard at work laying down the foundations for our campaign, all of which is focused on one thing - getting ready for Australia," Henare said. "The players will be doing little other than eating, sleeping and working hard on their basketball skills and strengths."
The Tall Blacks will certainly have their work cut out for them against a Boomers side stacked with NBA talent. While hopeful of securing the involvement of Oklahoma City Thunder centre Steven Adams, Henare knows his side will remain underdogs even if Adams is available.
"But we will back ourselves against anyone in the world," he said. "That has always been the attitude in this team and you can be sure it will continue under my watch. These boys have immense pride in themselves and they know what it means to pull on the black singlet."
One of those players will be Lindsay Tait despite the veteran guard skipping last week's selection trials in Auckland, with Henare prepared to make an exception for a player of his importance.
"He needed some space to freshen up after a long campaign with the [Wellington] Saints and was unsure as to his availability," Henare said. "A player like Lindsay with 12 years on the national team has earned the right to that time away but I am thrilled to say he is ready to go and fully committed to this programme and the aim of defeating Australia next month."
Tait's nous will be vital in a squad featuring a solid core from the Australian NBL champion Breakers, with Tom Abercrombie, Mika Vukona and Corey Webster the side's backbone.
Their experience will be complemented by an exciting young trio, with Isaac Fotu (Spain) and Rob Loe (Greece) boasting European experience and 17-year-old Tai Wynyard continuing to earn international play ahead of his move to the University of Kentucky.
Tall Blacks in Europe July 25 vs Great Britain July 29 vs Croatia July 30 vs Slovenia
