AUCKLAND (2015 FIBA Oceania Women's Championship) - Twenty-five players will battle for 12 spots in the New Zealand Tall Ferns squad that is to compete in the FIBA Oceania Women's Championship against Australia.

The Kiwis and Opals will square off in Melbourne on 15 August and then meet in Tauranga, New Zealand, two days later, with the winner of the two-game series to clinch a spot in the Rio de Janeiro Games and the loser to enter the 2016 FIBA Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament.

New Zealand coach Kennedy Kereama has named 23 of the 25 players that will be at the selection camp in South Auckland (16-19 July) and a pair of recently-crowned WNBL champions are among them.

Veterans Micaela Cocks and Jillian Harmon, who helped the Townsville Fire win their first WNBL title, are in the group and good bets to make the final roster.

Townsville coach Chris Lucas is an assistant to Kereama on the Tall Ferns bench.

A couple of teammates of Cocks and Harmon from the Beijing Olympics, Lisa Wallbutton and Natalie Taylor, are also included.

Taylor, who plays in Queensland, Australia, for Logan Thunder, like Harmon last suited up for the Tall Ferns at the 2012 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament and averaged a team-high 13 points in their two games, defeats to the Czech Republic and Argentina.

Wallbutton competes for the Willeton Tigers in Australia. 

"This combination will give us some much needed experience and leadership on court as well as some scoring threats from different areas on the court," Kereama said.

"Both Jillian and Micaela have just come off a great WNBL season with Chris Lucas and it's great to have them both back in the mix.

"Natalie Taylor and Lisa Wallbutton come back after taking some time away from international basketball."

Kereama has a good idea of what to expect from the four players.

He is eager to take a good look at the Tall Ferns hopefuls that re competing in American college basketball.

"Players like Stella Beck (St Mary's), Penina Davidson (University of California), Josie Stockill (Colgate University), Jordan Hunter (Southeast Missouri State) and Kalani Purcell (Brigham Young University) are a few who have already represented the Ferns at past Oceania events," Kereama said.

Beck spoke to FIBA.com earlier this year about her dream of making it to an Olympic Games.

I am looking forward to seeing what sort of intensity and competition our college players bring to camp. - Kereama

New additions to the Tall Ferns camp environment from college are Tessa Boagni (California State University), Alicia Carline (Portland State University), Moengaroa Subritzki (University of Maryland Eastern Shore) , Georgia Agnew (Utah Valley University) and Jasmine Davis (University of Wyoming)."

Another former college player who can potentially be a big help in the low post against Australia is Megan Craig.

"Megan Craig will potentially add some much needed size to our team at 6ft 8in (2.03m)," Kereama said.

"She has been playing in the SBL for the Lakeside Lightning in Perth.

"Samara Gallaher and Chevannah Paalvast have both been playing in the BigV competition in Victoria and Shannon Perrett has been starting at point guard for the Sandringham Sabres in the SEABL."

New Zealand-based players like Shea Crotty, Jessica Tuki, Jessca Bygate and Deena Franklin are also in the mix while newcomers are Morgan Roberts and Connie Poletti.

Chemistry will be important for us, the coaching staff will be looking for the right combination of players for our Oceania series. - Kereama

"We have the luxury of having almost a month together before we play Australia and this provides a great opportunity to reintroduce everyone back to our Tall Ferns style of play and build on this against quality opposition," Kereama said.

The door is not shut on those that will play in this weekend's final round of the WBC.

"We have three or four positions still available in the trial and I want to leave those decisions until this weekend to see who performs well and perhaps who puts their hand up for the first time to justify a shot at the national team," Kereama said.

Notable absentees from this summer's program are Antonia Edmondson, Maia Wilson, Erin Rooney, Rhaiah Spooner-Knight and Krystal Leger-Walker, players that were selected but are not available.

The Tall Ferns will remain in South Auckland after the trials and have a preparation camp (20-26 July) before jetting off to Chinese Taipei to take part in the William Jones Cup (27-31 July).

New Zealand will more warm-up games 1-11 August against yet to be named opposition with the venues also still to be confirmed.

The first game in the FIBA Oceania Women's Championship will be at the Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne and the second game will be at the ASB Arena in Tauranga.

New Zealand Tall Ferns preliminary squad for 2015 FIBA Oceania Women's Championship: Georgia Agnew, Stella Beck, Tessa Boagni, Jess Bygate, Alicia Carline, Micaela Cocks, Megan Craig, Shea Crotty, Jasmine Davis, Penina Davidson, Deena Franklin, Samara Gallaher, Jillian Harmon, Jordan Hunter, Chevannah Paalvast, Connie Poletti, Kalani Purcell, Morgan Roberts, Josie Stockill, Moengaroa Subritzki, Natalie Taylor, Jess Tuki and Lisa Wallbutton.

FIBA