INTERNATIONAL basketball action comes to the Shoalhaven this weekend as the FIBA Oceania Under 19 Championships are staged at the Tigers Den.

The matches between the Australian and New Zealand under 19s sides will act as qualifiers for the World Championships.

It is a chance for some of Australia's junior sporting stars to reverse the recent trend at senior level where the Kiwis have beaten Australian sides at rugby union and netball.

Six matches are being staged over the weekend tipping off tonight Friday, with games also tomorrow, Saturday and Sunday with the Emus and Gems set to do battle with the Junior Tall Blacks and Junior Tall Ferns.

The series has a real local flavour with Shoalhaven representatives Ben Dowdell and Alex Gynes taking the court for the Emus, while Jaimee Kennedy will be lining up for the Gems.

Dowdell, who is an AIS scholarship holder, will be joined by Gynes after his stunning performances at the under 18 national championships recently where his NSW Country team took out the gold medal and a fellow South Coast representative in Daniel Jackson.

Also joining them will be current Basketball NSW Junior Male Player of the Year Andrew Ogilvy.

Kennedy is a well-known name in local basketballing circles and Jaimee is keen to show her wares in front of a home crowd in Australian colours, in fact she has been named the Gems' co-captain for the weekend.

She will be joined in the Gems line up bytwo members of the victorious U18 NSW Country team who have recently returned from the National Championships, Molly Lewis and Katie-Rae Ebzery.

The Emus and Gems will play off against rivals New Zealand in a three game series to decide the Oceania region's representatives at the 2007 under 19 World Championships in Canada (Men) and Slovak Republic (Women.)

The Kiwi men's and women's sides have been in the Shoalhaven all week preparing.

They have undertaken matches against the Shoalhaven State League women's side and a men's team made up of former Shoalhaven State League stars as warm ups.

Tickets are still available for the weekend' action.

A three-day pass is $25 adult and $20 a child up to 17 years.

Single game passes are $10 adult and $8 a child.

All tickets will be pre sold; no tickets available at the door.

For more information contact Scott Balsar on 44213800 or email: shoalbasket@shoalhaven. net.au

Weekend's schedule

FIBA Oceania Under 19 Championships draws.

Tonight, Friday - Games tip off 6pm for the Women and 8pm for the Men.

Tomorrow, Saturday - Games tip off 5pm for the Men and 7pm for the Women.

Sunday - Games tip offs 10am for the Men and 12noon for the Women.