Australian basketball great Lauren Jackson has taken another step towards a fifth Olympics as Alice Kunek and Isobel Borlase pressed claims for Paris tickets in the Opals’ 94-66 friendly win over China.

Jackson, who has emerged from retirement to chase Olympic gold, put in a solid showing at Melbourne’s John Cain Arena on Wednesday night.

The 43-year-old played more than 21 minutes — only Darcee Garbin and 19-year-old Borlase spent more time on court — in a positive sign of her fitness.

Jackson finished with 13 points, three rebounds and two steals, and her contribution would have been greater if not for 0-of-4 shooting from three-point range.

“It was good without being awesome,” Opals stand-in coach Cheryl Chambers said of Jackson’s display.

“She played her team role and that’s part of it.

“Sometimes when you have someone the calibre of Lauren, everything can go through her, but we flew around her and we got to score.

“She’s great on the offensive rebounds, she got some rebounds and some taps, so I thought she had a really good performance.”

It was the first of two meetings for the world No.3 Opals against China — ranked second behind the US — in contests that will help decide the make-up of the 12-player Games roster.

The teams face off again at the same venue on Friday night.

Kunek and Borlase were outstanding on Wednesday for an Opals line-up missing seven stars who are competing in the WNBA season.