The Boomers say their emotional scars from their last basketball World Cup qualifier match will be tested when the next round gets underway in Doha this week.
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The match against Qatar is the first time the Australians have played since their ugly "basketbrawl" with the Philippines in July, that left three Boomers and 10 of their players suspended.
Suspended trio Thon Maker, Derek Kickert and Chris Goulding will miss the Qatar game, which will be played Friday (1am AEST), with Melbourne skipper Goulding returning for the Monday night clash with Kazakhstan at Bendigo Stadium.
Boomers assistant coach Luc Longley said the team wanted to get back out on the court to put the harrowing match behind them.
"Emotional scars are hard to see," said Longley.
"It appears that the guys have reconciled pretty well but I will feel much more confident after tomorrow's game.
"Once we've played a game and being officiated by FIBA referees and gotten through that process I think that will be the most cathartic thing for the players.
"I don't think you could say anyone is 100 per cent resolved about it until we've moved through this next couple of games."
Qatar's only wins in the tournament have come against Iraq, who have been cut after round one.
Longley said the Australians arrived on the weekend to ensure they were well prepared in the hot and humid conditions.
"They're an explosive transition team," Longley said.
"They are very quick up and down the floor and they're very hard to scout because they are quite erratic.
"We will have an advantage in size and I think in depth, given we can run all 12 guys but they're at home and they'll be excited to play."
The Australians made five changes to the squad with Illawarra's Todd Blanchfield and Adelaide's All-NBL First Team player Daniel Johnson making World Cup qualifying debuts.
Matt Hodgson, Mitch Norton and Jesse Wagstaff also return to the side, with Wagstaff then making way for Goulding for the Kazakhstan match.
Longley, who played 10 seasons in the NBA, said he'd been impressed with scoring machine Johnson.
"Daniel hasn't been with us before but I've been really impressed with how he's handled himself at practice and with the group and I'm looking forward to seeing him get out on the floor tomorrow," Longley said.
Australian Associated Press
