Australian basketball great Lauren Jackson has taken another step towards a fifth Olympics as Alice Kunek and Isobel Borlase pressed claims for Paris tickets in the Opals' 94-66 friendly win over China.
Jackson, who has emerged from retirement to chase Olympic gold, put in a solid showing at Melbourne's John Cain Arena on Wednesday night.
The 43-year-old played more than 21 minutes - only Darcee Garbin and 19-year-old Borlase spent more time on court - in a positive sign of her fitness.
Jackson finished with 13 points, three rebounds and two steals, and her contribution would have been greater if not for 0-of-4 shooting from three-point range.
"It was good without being awesome," Opals stand-in coach Cheryl Chambers said of Jackson's display.
"She played her team role and that's part of it.
"Sometimes when you have someone the calibre of Lauren, everything can go through her, but we flew around her and we got to score.
"She's great on the offensive rebounds, she got some rebounds and some taps, so I thought she had a really good performance."
It was the first of two meetings for the world No.3 Opals against China - ranked second behind the US - in contests that will help decide the make-up of the 12-player Games roster.
The teams face off again at the same venue on Friday night.
Kunek and Borlase were outstanding on Wednesday for an Opals line-up missing seven stars who are competing in the WNBA season.
Ezi Magbegor, Sami Whitcomb, Steph Talbot, Rebecca Allen, Alanna Smith, Kristy Wallace and Jade Melbourne are all in the Games roster mix.
Those selected will join their teammates for camp in Spain this month before the squad heads to Paris.
Kunek, who required surgery on an injured wrist and missed the Olympic qualifying tournament in February, finished with 19 points and had a huge say during the decisive third period.
Borlase matched Kunek with 19 points and Garbin added 15 with five rebounds.
The Opals were 7-of-10 from deep late in the first half, riding the hot hands of Garbin and Borlase to a 45-36 lead at the main break.
The scoreboard got messy in the second half as Kunek's 10 points on perfect shooting contributed to a dominant 26-13 third period by the hosts, who went on with the job in the last quarter.
"Everyone contributed and we played together as a team and moved the ball," Chambers said.
"(Kunek and Borlase) had awesome games but Friday night it will be someone else.
"China like to run in transition and I reckon we really stifled that, so I'm pretty proud of the way everyone played."
Wang Siyu was a shining light for China with a game-high 21 points.
