The New Zealand basketball team play Australia in the first of two games for the Oceanic Championship in Sydney tonight.
The largely inexperienced Tall Blacks side are carrying the underdog label after an eight game tour of Europe last month resulted in only two wins.
But captain Kirk Penney says they are prepared for the physical game Australia play and hope to overcome that with strong defence.
The game starts at 8pm, with the second test to be played in Wellington on Tuesday.
