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THE Boomers, with an individual record around the corner for captain Patty Mills and due reward for coach Brian Goorjian's Spanish strategy, take a back seat tomorrow night as the intriguing Opals prepare for what theoretically should be a "pencil-in" win over Nigeria in their Paris Olympic Group B opener.

Losing Bec Allen on the eve of the tournament was a jolt but if the Opals handle it as well as the Boomers handled having Dante Exum out injured during their 92-80 win over Spain, there should be no cause for undue alarm.

Goorjian psyched his men with footage of the many times Spain has proven Australia's international nemesis, the Boomers last victorious over the Spaniards at the Sydney 2000 Olympics when they prevailed 91-80.

Notice anything interesting about last night's scoreline compared to 24 years ago?

A little freaky. Less so is the fact Mills is one 3-point make away from drawing level with his 2014 NBA championship teammate at San Antonio Spurs, Manu Ginobili.

Ginobili wracked up 523 points for Argentina in Olympic competition to be sixth on the all-time Games scorers' list.

Patty moved his tally to 520 with his 19 against Spain. Four points or more against Canada moves Ginobili to seventh all-time, Patty also within sight of all-time fifth place holder, Brazil's original scoring machine Marques Wlamir.

Wlamir, the inspiration for countryman Oscar Schmidt to lead all Olympic scorers with a whopping 1,093 points, is fifth on 537.

Another 19-point (or 18 even) game and Patty moves past him too. But tomorrow in Lille, the Boomers most likely will be in the stands supporting an Opals team which has to reshuffle somewhat in Allen's absence, incoming Amy Atwell an asset but a long way off a debutante starter.

Not so Jade Melbourne. In fact who coach Sandy Brondello goes with at PG and how she starts will be fascinating.

Melbourne would be a daring decision and an exciting one. Is Steph Talbot, an All Star Five selection at the 2022 FIBA Women's World Cup, fully fit and ready to roll?

Does Sami Whitcomb start at PG, sharing the load with Tess Madgen? Is it time for Lauren Jackson, even at 43 but in the best shape of recent memory, to start?

Ezi Magbegor can be slotted in right away but if Brondello is looking to match Nigeria's athleticism, starting Alanna Smith alongside her would be ballsy.

Does Kristy Wallace start at PG?

Nigeria will be no cakewalk but if the Opals, as we all expect, are to escape Group B - with World Cup bronze medal opponent Canada and host nation France still to come in intragroup play - then this is simply a must win.

The women's pools are:

Group A: China, Puerto Rico, Serbia, Spain

Group B: Australia, Canada, France, Nigeria

Group C: Belgium, Germany, Japan, USA

The start time for the Opals' matches in SA are all, obviously, 30 minutes earlier than the graphic, which is in AEST. 

MEN'S RESULTS

Group A: Australia 92 d Spain 80; Canada 86 d Greece 79

Group B: Germany 97 d Japan 77; France 78 d Brazil 66

Group C: Tonight - South Sudan v Puerto Rico, Serbia v USA