Virus moves Boomers' Hong Kong clash home

Brisbane will host both of Australia's Asia Cup basketball qualifiers later this month after the Boomers' visit to Hong Kong was canned because of the coronavirus.

Australia will play New Zealand next Thursday and Hong Kong three days later, with the precautionary measures meaning the Boomers' trip to Hong Kong is now scheduled for the third window of qualifying in February next year.

American and European-based players will be off the selection table for interim coach Will Weaver, as will any NBL player involved in the approaching finals series.

Just who they are remains to be seen with Brisbane, Melbourne United and New Zealand all in the hunt for fourth spot midway through the regular season's final round.

Weaver will stand in for Philadelphia 76ers' NBA coach Brett Brown, who was named as Andrej Lemanis's replacement after the Boomers' fourth-placed finish at last year's World Cup in China.

Australia narrowly missed a medal in China, but still secured their Olympic berth and are the defending Asia Cup champions.