Opals ready for Belarus

The Opals are expected to waltz past basketball minnows Belarus on Saturday and get their Beijing Olympic campaign off to a flying start.

Australian coach Jan Stirling has done her best to talk up the little-known Belarussians, who took bronze at last year's European championships and are preparing for their first Olympic Games.

But the rest of the basketball world is anticipating a bloodbath in the opening game at the brand new Beijing Olympic Basketball Gymnasium.

The Australian team isn't marching in the Opening Ceremony to ensure they are fit and ready for the 0900 (1100 AEST) tip-off.

Betting agencies Centrebet and SportsTAB have listed Australia at the shortest possible odds of $1.01, compared to $17 and $13 respectively for Belarus.

But Stirling is having none of it as she tries to keep the Opals in the right frame of mind for a shot at a breakthrough gold medal.

"Belarus are a wonderful team. We saw them in October last year and they're a fantastic team," she said.

"We haven't played them at all, they're new to the Olympic Games as a basketball nation and they're a wonderful, wonderful team.

"They can play and they're going to be a great challenge for us."

The Opals have won silver medals at the past two Olympics, but finally cracked a gold medal at the 2006 world championships.

The nucleus of the team, including captain Lauren Jackson, Penny Taylor, Kristi Harrower, Suzy Batkovic and Belinda Snell, are in their prime and have played together for years.

Their obvious chemistry when they take to the floor is envied across the world.

The United States are gunning for a fourth straight Olympic gold and are the favourites, but even they are well aware of the threat posed by the Opals.

Russia, who beat the US in the world championship semi-finals, are the only other nation considered any chance of taking the top prize.

"Australia won gold in Brazil at the world championships, they are the world champions and you can never take that away from them," US point guard Sue Bird said.

"For us, in terms of a target, they're the team to beat because they won last.

"For Russia, there might be a little bit more incentive, but if we're playing those teams that's a good sign because it means we've gotten that far."

Australia and Russia are in the same pool and their group game on August 17 will likely determine who will meet the US in the gold medal match and who will have to tackle them in the semis.

The Opals have six first-time Olympians, but they also boast two leaders who rank among the best players in the world.

"Fortunately we also have six who have been here before," Stirling said.

"The captains in Lauren and Penny certainly share a few things with (the debutantes), because there is a bit of starry-eyed stuff, especially when they walk into that dining hall (in the Olympic Village).

"But they're pretty settled and they've got some great leaders that can help them keep everything under an even keel and not get into all the hype.

"It is pretty daunting."