Boomers coach Brian Goorjian is expected to announce Shane Heal's return to the Australian basketball team for its build-up to the Athens Olympics.

Heal retired from international basketball in January, 2001, stating he wanted "to give a young Australian point guard the opportunity to experience the great things that I have with the Boomers".

After captaining Sydney to its first NBL title this year, he then retired from professional basketball but left the door open for a possible Boomers return for the 2004 Games.

It was believed he planned to play in Europe next year to prepare for Athens, but AAP learnt last week Goorjian was insisting Heal had to play before Australia's qualifying series against New Zealand in September this year.

The 32-year-old is now expected to join the Boomers camp on the Gold Coast from June 22.

"He's closed his hand on the Kings and virtually the NBL, I never see him playing in that again," Goorjian told AAP last Friday.

"But he hasn't closed the door on the Olympics and I do think there's a good possibility that he would want to play at the Olympics.

"What I'm saying to you is, Shane would need to play now and put his hand up now for these series and tours coming up or I couldn't consider him."

Heal hasn't played for Australia since helping it to fourth place at the Sydney Olympics, when the international retirements of Andrew Gaze, Luc Longley, Mark Bradtke and Andrew Vlahov led to a new era for the sport.

But there is currently a shortage of point guards, with incumbent Brett Maher dealing with a serious family issue and CJ Bruton out with a knee injury.

Heal has also often stated his desire to be part of the first Australian men's team to win a medal in international competition, the one achievement he has yet to fulfil.

After earning All NBL First Team honours for the first time this season, he is clearly still the country's pre-eminent floor leader.

Goorjian always said the door would be open for Heal, but couldn't afford to be adding pieces to the team next year.

"These guys that are going to perform at the Olympics need to start to play together now, so I can't be adding people next year just before we go to the Olympics," he said.

"So if they don't put on a singlet now during this summer I wouldn't consider them."

Heal is expected to do just that later this month in a big boost to the Boomers Olympic plans.

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