An ankle injury has ruled NBL MVP candidate Xavier Cooks out of Australia's next World Cup qualification game.
Cooks' Sydney Kings teammate Jaylin Galloway will replace him in the Boomers squad to face Kazakhstan in Astana on Saturday (AEDT) in the first of two qualifiers during the next week.
Basketball Australia is hopeful Cooks could still recover in time for the second game against Iran in Tehran on Tuesday (AEDT).
The NBL will go on hiatus to accommodate the fifth window of qualifiers but the NBA continues as normal, meaning the Boomers' 11-man squad to face Kazhakstan is comprised mostly of local players.
Basketball Australia told AAP the squad was subject to change between Australia's two matches. A win in either confirms the Boomers' spot at the World Cup, which begins in August and will be played across Indonesia, Japan and the Philippines.
The game against Kazakhstan was to be Cooks' first national appearance since Australia's warm-up games for the Tokyo Olympics.
Instead, the 203cm swingman will remain behind in Sydney and nurse his injury, suffered just before half-time of the Kings' win over the New Zealand Breakers on Sunday afternoon.
As of Monday morning, the Kings were still awaiting results of scans on his ankle.
Galloway, who played extended minutes against the Breakers, is now poised to make his debut for the Boomers, who have won all eight of their games on the road to qualification so far.
"I'm really excited for this opportunity - it's always an honour to represent Australia," Galloway said in a press statement.
"The goal going over to Kazakhstan is to help book the Boomers spot at the World Cup and keep our undefeated record intact."
Championship-winning King Dejan Vasiljevic, Olympic bronze medallist Nick Kay and Adelaide 36ers guard Mitch McCarron are among the other members of the Boomers' squad.
Perth Wildcats player Luke Travers withdrew late last week citing load management concerns but has not been replaced.
After their game against Iran, Australia will play Bahrain and Kazhakstan in February for their last two qualifiers.
