The Tall Blacks will test themselves against plenty of quality opposition in the build-up to the FIBA Basketball World Cup in China.
New Zealand will play world top-five opponents France and Serbia, as well as Italy, Japan and Canada, who all sit inside the top 50.
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Basketball NZ chief executive Iain Potter believes they have a near-perfect schedule heading into the tournament, which begins on August 31.
"These games are an amazing opportunity for the Tall Blacks, but also for Basketball New Zealand to forge new and ongoing relationships," he said.
"It speaks to our reputation on the international stage that we have secured such an invite to play alongside some of the world's best teams.
"I know Paul [Henare] sees the games against Canada as a great measuring stick for where the team will be at, leading into the World Cup."
New Zealand will play back-to-back games against an NBA-laden Canadian side in Sydney on August 20-21.
The two sides last met in a breathtaking Commonwealth Games semi-final last year, which the Canadians won on the buzzer.
Canada may include NBA stars Andrew Wiggins, Tristan Thompson and Jamal Murray, and likely 2019 top-three draft pick RJ Barrett.
"The Tall Blacks are a team on the rise and these will be another series of important games, as we continue to build towards the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019," noted Canada Basketball general manager Rowan Barrett.
"Having last faced off in the semi-finals at both the 2018 Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast and 2016 FIBA World Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Manila, Canada and New Zealand have some recent history.
"We expect a pair of hard-fought games that will ultimately better prepare us to achieve our goals at the World Cup."
Tall Blacks coach Henare believes the build-up will have his side in prime condition for the World Cup.
"The team at Basketball New Zealand deserve huge praise for what they have put in place for us to be ready and at our best at the World Cup.
"Playing through the Asia qualifiers was a new and massive test, and one that we passed with flying colours.
"But the World Cup will go up another couple of notches in intensity and quality, and it is vital we are ready for that level of basketball.
"These matches against world-class teams will help us achieve that - it will be a learning curve, but one our group will be up for."
New Zealand open their World Cup campaign against Brazil on September 1.
Newshub.
