CANBERRA CAPITALS

LAST SEASON: 2nd (15-6) - CHAMPIONS SQUAD: Kelsey Griffin (c), Marianna Tolo (c), Ashley Taia, Brittany Smartm Mikaela Ruef, Tahlia Tupaea, Jade Melbourne, Hannah Kaser, Abby Cubillo, Maddison Rocci, Alex Delaney, Keely Froling

Paul Gorriss

Maddison Rocci – Being named in Sandy Brondello’s extended Opals squad earlier this year would give the young guard plenty of confidence on the court. She will have big shoes to fill with imports Kia Nurse and Olivia Epoupa out of the Capitals squad for the Covid-affected season. Rocci has been an understudy to the pair for the past few seasons and will be ready to break out into a spotlight of her own.

CAPTAIN’S CALL: “We have had a long off-season, but we are fortunate we have had facilities that we can train in. Several of our girls were in the QBL so they had some game play, but for the rest of us we are excited to get started.

“I am really excited for Abby Cubillo. She is one to watch, she has had a great off-season, with that no import rule it will be a chance for her.

“If you ask anyone, a championship is the goal but like I have been telling the girls it is a consequence of what you put into it.

FINAL WORD: It’s not easy to stay at the top. The Capitals are aiming to become the first side in almost 25 years to win three-straight WNBL championships.

But it won’t be easy with the side missing two of their most influential players in Nurse and Epoupa. The pair have been crucial cogs in Gorriss’ successful set-up.

But many wrote them off early last season and rued the call. It would be a game person to do it again to well-oiled Capitals machine.