Basketball On The Internet.

NOT sure when it will be time to take an Opals squad/team seriously but surely coach Brendan Joyce has to get more deliberate soon with the World Championship right around the corner.

The 12 players named by Basketball Australia today for matches in Japan later this week are another in a long line of interesting combinations dating back to last year’s Oceania Series.

But at what point is it time to start making decisions about who has a legit chance for Turkey and who should be more in Rio calculations?

Surely this team was the one.

I get that Lauren Jackson – who is a WC certainty – is prioritising her rehabilitation and was unavailable.

I get that Penny Taylor and Erin Phillips are getting it done for Phoenix Mercury in the WNBA.

I even get that Alice Kunek is rehabbing a shoulder, Jess Foley an ankle and that Bendigo pair Gabe Richards and Kelly Wilson are missing this tour.

Hell, I even understand that Jenna O’Hea ruled herself out of the WC as did three-time WNBL MVP Suzy Batkovic.

But if Abby Bishop's situation shouldn’t have been revisited or Cayla Francis considered, then I am rendered mute.

With all due respect to Natalie Burton, I agree she has great potential as a 194cm athlete.

But I can’t see her ahead of the players I just mentioned. Not at this point in their respective careers.

Burton is 25 and has yet to have a break-out WNBL season. If she has not yet made a WNBL impression, what is the likelihood international stardom is around the corner?

Don’t get me wrong. I love the fact Joyce is giving youngsters – or veterans who thought their international ship had sailed – opportunities.

I’m just saying surely it is time to be pruning to get closer to the actual 12 who will represent Australia at the Worlds.

And that’s even allowing for the current absence of likely selections such as LJ and the others.

Yes, we have the benefit of great depth in our women’s basketball ranks.

But it seems as if it is becoming an almost never-ending search to find the players who will fill spots 9-12 when the focus should squarely be on 1-8.

That said, our Jayco Opals for this tour are:

Rebecca Allen – Melbourne Boomers

Natalie Burton – Melbourne Boomers

Elizabeth Cambage – Dandenong Rangers

Laura Hodges – Adelaide Lightning

Natalie Hurst - Canberra Capitals/Canik BLD (Turkey)

Rachel Jarry – Melbourne Boomers

Tessa Lavey – Bendigo Spirit

Tess Madgen – Melbourne Boomers

Leilani Mitchell – Sydney Uni Flames

Jennifer Screen – Free agent

Belinda Snell – Bendigo Spirit

Marianna Tolo – Bourges (France)

The schedule is: V Japan, Friday, July 25 @ Akita 8pm (All times AEST)

V Japan B, Saturday, July 26 @ Akita 2pm

V Japan, Sunday, July 27 @ Yamagata 4:30pm

V Mozambique, Tuesday, July 29 @ Sendai 6pm