Australia’s Opals loom as a strong medal chance as they get their women’s basketball campaign underway against Nigeria tonight (from 7pm AEST).

Aussie basketball GOAT Lauren Jackson returns to the Olympics for the first time since 2012, which was also the last time the Opals medalled.

Jackson missed Rio and Tokyo due to her injury-forced retirement.

Australia (No.3) is the highest-ranked team in its group with Nigeria (No.12) the lowest, the group also featuring Canada (No.5) and France (No.7).

Having barely escaped the group stage in Tokyo by a single point, the Opals ran into the USA in the quarter-finals, and will be hoping to win their group this time to avoid the favourites for gold for as long as possible.

FULL PARIS SCHEDULE: Every event with AEST times

MEDAL TALLY: How the fight for Paris dominance stands

EVERY AUSSIE: Who is representing us in each sport

Elsewhere Tokyo bronze medallist Harry Garside’s Olympic campaign gets underway tonight against Hungary’s Richard Kovacs.

Fighting at 63.5kg (lightweight), Garside is seeded fifth and only needs to win two fights to guarantee himself a medal, given all four semi-finalists are awarded one.

In the equestrian, Australia’s Chris Burton is in contention for a medal in the individual eventing, having finished equal-third in the dressage phase and third in the cross country phase, with the jumping to come tonight.

Tristan Carter is hoping to repeat Jess Fox’s feats in the canoe slalom, with the Aussie qualifying 12th-fastest for tonight’s C1 semi-final.

The Aussie women’s rugby sevens team is also in action again with the quarter-finals held in the early hours of Tuesday morning. They are considered a strong medal chance.

AUSSIES IN ACTION — DAY 3

All times AEST

5pm: Men’s Beach Volleyball — Australia vs Italy (Mark Nicolaidis. Izac Carracher)

5.30pm: Rowing Heats

6pm: Men’s Hockey — Australia vs Ireland (Kookaburras)

7pm: Women’s Basketball — Australia vs Nigeria (Opals)

7pm: Swimming Heats

7pm: Men’s Diving — Synchronised 10m Platform Final (Domonic Bedggood, Cassiel Rousseau)

7pm: Equestrian — Eventing Team and Individual Jumping Qualifying (Chris Burton, Shane Rose)

8:20pm: Boxing — Men’s 63.5kg Round of 16, Harry Garside vs Richard Kovacs

10.30pm: Women’s Rugby Sevens — Australia vs Ireland

11pm: Equestrian — Eventing Individual Jumping Final (Chris Burton)

11.30pm: Men’s Canoe Slalom — C1 Semifinal (Tristan Carter)

1am: Women’s Hockey — Australia vs Great Britain (Hockeyroos)

1.20am: Men’s Canoe Slalom — C1 Final (Tristan Carter)

3am: Men’s Surfing — Round 3

4.30am — Swimming finals

5am: Women’s Rugby Sevens Quarterfinals

6am: Women’s Beach Volleyball — Australia vs USA (Mariafe Artacho del Solar, Taliqua Clancy)

7.48am: Women’s Surfing — Round 3