"My life's biggest achievement": Aussie star shining on biggest stage

Eithen Leard's ascension from Commonwealth Games baton kid to athlete is complete.

But the 3x3 wheelchair basketball gun is only just warming up in Glasgow.

After steering the Wombats into the knockout stages of the men's competition, Leard has the semi-finals and a gold medal front of mind.

"We've taken steps in the right direction every game," the 20-year-old told AAP.

"We had a little bump in the first game, but we took down Canada and that was good. We've got a long way to go, but we're all pretty confident and we know what it's going to take to get there.

"(A gold medal) is the target and absolutely I think that's a realistic goal for us."

Living with a spinal cord deformity discovered at birth, Leard was only a child when he set about changing the perception of disability.

He took to wheelchair basketball at a young age and was an inspiration to many as a baton bearer in the relay leading up to the 2018 Gold Coast games.

"It's pretty funny and it's a full-circle moment, especially at the opening ceremony when I saw them hand over the baton," Leard said.

"It was cool to be able to get the baton back in Ipswich where I grew up and now I'm here in Glasgow representing Australia."

Leard is relishing strutting his stuff alongside able-bodied athletes in the unique Games format, which has the two programs running side by side.

"You get support from the able-bodied athletes and I really hope they feel the support they get from us," Leard said.

"It's a super experience to have it all correlated in together.

"The massive crowds are something that wheelchair basketball doesn't always get and something that we probably do deserve more frequently.

"So that's pretty awesome in itself and any chance that you get to represent Australia is awesome too."

Leard made his Paralympics debut in Paris and dreams of chasing wheelchair basketball glory again in Los Angeles and his hometown Brisbane.

"Playing for Australia is, at the moment, my life's biggest achievement," Leard said.

"Playing in Brissie, my home city, and being able to represent my country there on the biggest stage would be something that not many people get to experience.

"It definitely plays a massive part in my head. I quite frequently think about it and it's just all gas until then."

The Wombats men face Wales in their play-in game on Tuesday (local time), with the women taking on Nigeria at the same stage of their tournament.

A spot in the last four is the prize.

Australia's able-bodied 3x3 teams both finished unbeaten from five pool games and advanced directly to their semi-finals.

The Gangurrus are aiming for gold after filling minor placings - men with silver, women with bronze - in Birmingham four years ago.

Australian wheelchair men

Australia v England – Saturday, July 25 - 1:35am
Australia v Kenya – Sunday, July 26 - 9:20pm
Australia v Canada – Monday, July 27 - 9:45pm
Play-In Game: Australia v Wales - Wednesday, July 29 - 3:30pm