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THE Opals have suffered a cruel blow with potential Paris Olympics starter Bec Allen suffering a severe hamstring injury which will cost her these Games. But it is an opportunity for train-on shooting guard Amy Atwell, the Perth Lynx star elevated onto the Games' playing roster.

Allen was officially ruled out yesterday after injuring the hamstring against Canada in a practice match on Tuesday.

Australia opens its Olympic campaign in the intrapool stage against Nigeria on Monday, Allen's unforeseen omission forcing a rethink on who will comprise the Opals' starting quintet.

Until she suffered a punctured lung and two broken ribs at the 2022 FIBA World Cup in Sydney, Allen, 31, was in the Opals' opening lineup and expected to be so again in Paris, coach Sandy Brondello though blessed with options.

"Bec is such a big part of our team and has been for a long time, we are all devastated for her," Brondello said. "This injury has come at a really unfortunate time and the call had to be made upon medical advice. Unfortunately she was not going to recover in time to play in these Games."

Atwell and Alice Kunek, WNBL players who suited for the Opals in practice matches against China in Melbourne but also in warm-ups against Spain and Canada in Segovia, immediately gave Australia obvious ways to move forward.

Atwell, 26, this past WNBL season finished second in scoring with 18.8 points per game for Perth and produced one of the all-time most memorable Finals matches when she stroked nine 3-pointers against Southside in Game 1 of the championship series. 

In May she just missed the final roster spot on the Phoenix Mercury's WNBA team, returning instead to NBL1 South with Bendigo Lady Braves where she averaged 27.2 points per game.

While Atwell's elevation is the positive of the developments, losing a starter is a big blow so close to the tournament.

Australia plays Nigeria on Monday at 7pm AEST (6.30pm in SA), Canada on August 1 at 9.30pm AEST (9pm SA) and France on August 5 at 5am AEST (4.30am SA) in its intrapool matches.

First or second place in the group guarantees advancing, though the two best third-placed finishers from the three pools also advance to the KO next round.