Australian NBA star Andrew Bogut will make his first appearance for the national basketball team in almost two years when a four-game series against the Tall Blacks commences in Napier, New Zealand tonight.

The series is a crucial part of both teams' preparations for this year's world championships, to be held in Japan from August 19 to September 3.

Bogut, the number one pick in last year's NBA draft, will wear the green and gold for the first time since the Athens Olympics in 2004.

Youngsters David Barlow, Aleks Maric, Aaron Bruce and Steve Markovic will make their full international debuts tonight.

The addition of Maric to a front court of Bogut, reigning NBL most valuable player Chris Anstey and Rome-based Wade Helliwell gives the Boomers a huge inside presence.

Only five players have been retained from the Commonwealth Games gold medal winning squad.

"I don't see myself as gambling in throwing Maric and the other kids into the fray against the Kiwis,” coach Brian Goorjian said.

"Retirements since the Athens Olympics, injuries and players not available has opened the door to blood new bodies, the next generation of players who will be around the national program for the next five to 10 years.

"I'm looking at putting the building blocks in place not just for next month's world championships in Japan, but I'm also looking ahead to the Beijing Olympics in two years' time.''

In the backcourt CJ Bruton was unavailable for selection as he is in the US chasing an NBA contract and Stephen Black is injured.

Napier will host the first two games before the series shifts to Hobart and Melbourne next week.

AOC and Wires