Georgina Richards is a loud and boisterous sports fan, especially when the Tall Ferns are playing. That's because she was one.

The 26-year-old still has her basketball singlet – it's hanging in the wardrobe at her mum's place.

Former Tall Fern Georgina Richards. Photo: Tracy Hardy.

So when New Zealand women's team take on their Aussie rivals on Monday, August 17, in what is arguably the most important game in the four-year Olympic cycle, Georgina won't be able to sit still.

She'll most likely be the loudest fan in the crowd at the ASB Arena, when the world number-22 ranked Ferns go head-to-head against world number-two Australia's Opals in a qualifier for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

'I bought tickets as soon as I knew they were coming,” says the former NZ small forward.

This is the second game of the Olympic Qualifying Series, with the first FIBA Oceania Series in Melbourne on August 15.

She didn't want to admit it, but Georgina's prediction is a victory to the Aussies based on the past series between the teams.

'It will be really tough,” she admits. ‘We'll stay in the game for three quarters maybe, but I'm assuming they'll get away and probably win, which is sad.

'I think we'll give them a good run for their money. It depends who they [Opals] bring over in their team. Quite often they put up a B-team against us because they're quite confident that they'll win.

'So if NZ want to win, they're going to have to play four quarters of really good basketball.”

The Christchurch born basketballer stands at 180cm – that's a whole head and shoulders above this reporter.

And even at that height, Georgina's not tall in basketball terms. For example, Australia's Marianna Tolo is 196cm. That's just a few centimetres shorter than All Black lock Sam Whitelock.

The FIBA U16 Championship Women's Final will be played as the curtain raiser to the Australia versus New Zealand game at ASB Arena at 7.30pm.

Georgina says it will be a great opportunity for aspiring female basketballers to view NZ's talent.

WWTS

The Weekend Sun and Tauranga City Basketball has three NZ Tall Fern replica singlets and two double passes to give away to five lucky readers who can tell us where the Tall Ferns are playing on August 17.

Enter online at www.sunlive.co.nz under the competitions section.

Entries must be received before Wednesday, August 12.