But Australian basketball star Marianna Tolo says a stint on the famed Las Vegas strip will serve as a defining period for the Opals as they turn their attention to the Olympic Games.

It would be easy to be swept up in the mile a minute lifestyle in the world's entertainment capital, but not for the Opals.

Instead they'll be sitting inside, growing accustomed to life inside a bubble, steering clear of COVID-19 and plotting ways to end the United States' run of Olympic dominance.

"It's going to be so heartbreaking to look out on the strip. We'll just be sitting there dreaming of it all," Tolo laughed.

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The bulk of the Opals squad will arrive in Las Vegas on Monday [AEST] for a two-week stopover en route to the Tokyo Olympic Games.

A scrimmage against Nigeria will be followed by a game against the world No. 1 ranked United States before the Opals head to Tokyo in a fortnight.

So long before Tolo and her teammates can set their sights on Olympic pool games against the likes of Belgium, China and Puerto Rico, they will finally get a grasp of where they stand.

Team chemistry looms as the biggest question mark hanging over Sandy Brondello's squad, who have had little time together as an entire squad due to border restrictions and injuries to key players.

"That'll really define us and how we come together," Tolo said.

"It's only a couple of weeks but it really is setting up the springboard to go into Tokyo. We've got some great practice games lined up, one against USA and then a scrimmage against Nigeria as well, and then some when we get to Tokyo.

"All of those will be really crucial. It will be a matter of how quickly we can adapt and learn from what happened in those games."

Australia sit second behind the United States in FIBA's world rankings but the nature of life in a global pandemic means preparation has been somewhat disjointed.

The Opals are desperate to erase the memory of a forgettable Rio campaign that saw them bow out in the quarter-final stages. The United States have clinched first place at every Games since 1996 in Atlanta.

So naturally you wonder if this Opals side has what it takes to knock the all-conquering Americans off their perch.

"It's hard to say obviously because everyone's preparation has been so disjointed and all over the place," Tolo said.

"I know as Opals, we're all professionals and we all have this massive, amazing goal in mind. Everyone was going to be doing everything they could to prepare for the Olympics.

"Some girls are playing overseas in the WNBA, so it's fantastic for them to be in game shape. Those of us in Australia are playing NBL1 north or south, and just training, just trying to find whatever way we could to get ready.

"I'm looking forward to actually getting together. We've had a couple of camps this year, one in January and one in March, and then the selection camp in June.

"I missed those first two because of my foot injury, so it's going to be nice to train with the girls and get those connections on court again."

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