After a demanding, yet hugely successful warm-up campaign, the hosts go into the tie with their reputation at an all-time high, buoyed by last Sunday's great win over a French team tipped by many to reach the latter stages at the Games.
GB guard Natalie Stafford says a clash against the USA gives Britain another opportunity to show how far they have come since last summer's EuroBasket Women 2011: "The USA is where basketball started and they're such great athletes.
"Hopefully it's going to be exciting and we will draw some people there to watch and support us.
"It's nice to play against teams we haven't played against before, just to see what they are like and get a feel for them."
For Julie Page, playing in Manchester - where she began her career with Stockport Lapwings - carries extra significance: "I'm very excited to be playing tonight. One, I am playing for Great Britain in my home town and secondly, I'm playing against the best team in the world.
"It will show us the level we need to be at because obviously they are the best in the world and that's what we're going to be playing against this summer.
"We've been building up to this throughout the camp. You can't just go out there on day one and play against the best; we're saving the best to last I think."
After tonight's game in Manchester, Great Britain Women will then re-locate to the Olympic Village where they will get ready for their opening game of London 2012 against Australia on Saturday 28 July.
