The Ballarat rower will be part of the Australian women's eight in the second of two heats on the Sea Forest Waterway.

Australia takes on Romania and the United States, with the winner to progress to the A final, and second and third to get another opportunity in a repechage.

She is one of six Olympic debutants in the crew.

Werry grew up in Ballarat, attending St Thomas More Primary School and Ballarat Clarendon College, where she enjoyed success in the Head of the Lake.

The 27-year-old has a world championship title to her name and has been recognised in her hometown as a multiple Ballarat Sportswoman of the Year and Sportsperson of the Year.

Fellow world champion and former Ballarat Grammar School student Lucy Stephan will be on the water on Saturday.

Stephan, from Nhill, is a member of the women's coxless four at her second Olympics.

Other former Ballarat students, cyclist Lucas Hamilton and basketballer Nathan Sobey, will also be making their first Olympic appearances over the weekend.

Hamilton is one of four Australians contesting the road race, with him joining Luke Durbridge, Rohan Dennis and Richie Porte.

The 25-year-old is still recovering from a dislocated shoulder he suffere during the Tour de France, but his father, Bruce, backed him to push through the pain.

"If I look back at his history of racing, when he's had a setback he comes back twice as strong," Bruce Hamilton said.

"That's a credit to him because he doesn't let objects get in his road.

"He feels confident that he can get the job done, so he's just pressing on regardless

"What I think it is, is that eagerness to perform outweighs any sort of pain of he may be feeling."

"He's still really fit, so that overrides any other issues he may be having.

"When he was riding in the under 23 age group he was crashing every six weeks. They just learn to live with the (injuries). It's not ideal, but it's not the end of the world."

Sobey, who attended St Patrick's Coillege and later played for the Ballarat Miners before embarking on an NBL career, will suit up for the Australian Boomers under former Miners coach Brian Goorjian.

The Boomers take on Nigeria in their opening pool assignment on Sunday.

SATURDAY, JULY 24