Andrew Bogut will ease back into action by playing 20 minutes in the Sydney Kings' first pre-season game against the Japanese national team.
Former NBA centre Bogut hasn't played since January, but Kings coach Andrew Gaze says the 33-year-old is in outstanding physical condition.
"We've already told him and we've worked through it, that he's not going to play more than 20 minutes," Gaze told AAP.
"My initial thinking is he'll probably play most of those in the first half. We'll play that by ear a little bit, see how the game unfolds and make some judgments as we go," he said.
Gaze always intended to take a measured approach with his high-profile recruit.
"We don't want to throw him out there and start playing 35 minutes because he's getting his body used to the banging, the conditioning
"We want to make sure he's primed ready for the start of the season."
Gaze stressed he would be happy for Bogut to assume some ball handling duties.
"He's great at scooping the ball off the defensive glass and when he's got it, we've given him the licence to bring it up the floor," he said.
"He handles the ball really, really well for a big man and for him bringing it up the floor with the guards running down ahead of the ball ... we want to provide opportunities for that to happen."
Another Boomers big man, Daniel Kickert, will also make his Kings debut on Friday.
However, guard Jerome Randle and new import forward David Wear will both sit out the game, as they only arrived in Australia on Thursday.
Kickert and Kings guard Kevin Lisch both played for Australia in their 79-78 loss to Japan in a FIBA World Cup Asian qualifier in Chiba back in June, so they know what to expect.
"I think six or seven of the guys on that (Japan) team are actually on this team, so it's not an easy assignment for us," Gaze said.
Australian Associated Press
