Minutes before jetting off to Europe for the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup in Spain, Boomers head coach Andrej Lemanis says he expects to bring back medals.
Speaking at Sydney International Airport on Tuesday, Lemanis says a roster studded with NBA stars will give Australia a fighting chance in the August-September tournament.
The squad is headlined by San Antonio Spurs NBA champion Aron Baynes, Cleveland Cavaliers guard Matthew Dellavedova and 2014 draftees Dante Exum (Utah Jazz) and Cameron Bairstow (Chicago Bulls).
However Australia's two biggest NBA stars - Spurs point guard Patty Mills and Golden State Warriors centre Andrew Bogut - will both miss the competition due to injury.
Lemanis has had to make some tough calls, and says the shock exclusion of Ben Simmons from the final lineup only highlighted the depth of talent in the side.
"There's always difficult decisions to get to the final 12 but I think that's a good reflection of the state of Australian basketball at the moment, the fact that good players missed out," said Lemanis.
Six rookies will make their major tournament debuts for the Boomers, including Brock Motum, Cameron Bairstow and top five NBA draft pick Dante Exum.
The Melbourne-born point guard is confident he can step up and perform in Mills's absence.
"I'm also about to head into the NBA season as a rookie, so this World Cup is going to help me grow a bit more, before I take that step," said Exum.
The teenage prodigy said the Boomers initiation has been smooth sailing so far, but that could all change in the NBA.
"I've heard stories of how they fill popcorn up in guy's cars, so I'm trying to get on everyone's good side," Exum told AAP.
Once in Europe, the Boomers will embark on a nine-game pre-World Cup tour before their tournament campaign begins on August 31 (AEST).
Exum says it's important the players get a synergy flowing before their opener against Slovenia in the Canary Islands.
"With the matches leading up we want to keep gelling together as a team and build that chemistry and just learn everyone's roles," he said.
Young guns like 19-year-old Exum will get court time with David Andersen, a three-time Olympian who will go for his fifth major international tournament for Australia, as well as fellow veterans Joe Ingles and Brad Newley.
Dellavedova, who will be teammates with superstar LeBron James when the NBA season starts in October, said the Boomers' roster was a decent balance of experience and youth.
"We've got a good mix of inside and outside players, we've got good energy and we'll play hard, so I'm looking forward to getting over there," he said.
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