Co-captains Marianna Tolo and Kelsey Griffin to take ownership of re-branded Capitals

The Capitals will look to defend their crown in the upcoming WNBL season but start their campaign without Goriss at the helm.

Goriss, who is an assistant coach of the Australian team, will be guiding the Opals at the FIBA Asia Cup which the first stage on their qualifying journey to the Tokyo Olympics.

But his absence doesn't phase Tolo, who sees it as an opportunity to take ownership of the newly re-branded side and ahead of their title defense.

"Ownership will be put onto [Griffin and I] to carry ourselves in the way we want to be and the message we want to send," Tolo said, speaking at the Capitals logo launch.

"It's a great chance for us to be together for a long time. The teams who generally get to spend more time around each other will have a better start to the season.

"It'll be tough having [Goriss] away but we know what he's about and will carry through. [Griffin] and I will be in charge of leading that. But our assistant coaches will also lead the charge and we're comfortable under their hands."

Canberra will have a shorter turnaround compared to last season when they essentially started from scratch with a new-look side.

The Capitals lost star point guards Leilanni Mitchell and Kelly Wilson to rival WNBL clubs this year, but their premiership winning line-up will be bolstered by French national Olivia Epoupa.

"It really helps when you can keep a core group of players together and that will definitely be instrumental in the way that we play and build connections between each other," Tolo said.

"Obviously we lost our point-guards last year but now get Olivia Epoupa who has her own style and will work with us. She's a great person and I'm really excited to play with her."

The Capitals are close to signing the final two spots left on the full-contract roster, one for a back-up guard and the other for another "big".

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Meanwhile Griffin is back on track for the Capitals' opening match against Adelaide on October 13.

The 32-year-old underwent her third surgery within a year after playing through a broken plantar plate - an injury at the base of the toe - in last season's grand final.

Griffin had ankle and hamstring operations last year before making her Canberra debut and is hoping her break her injury curse.

The forward, who is also recovering from a fractured wrist, was confident she would be ready for the upcoming season.

"It took a while to re-pattern, walk and be active again but it's coming along well," Griffin admitted.

"I start jogging over the next couple of weeks which will be very exciting to put some load through it. There's plenty of conditioning work going into it even though I'm battered and bruised.

"It's certainly my plan [to be back for round one] if there's no other hiccups."

Tolo's also overcoming a foot problem but is hoping to return during midway through the preseason.

Meanwhile Capitals forward Keely Froling was named player-of-the-year in the Waratah League.

The 23-year-old helped guide the Canberra Nationals to the finals series under the gaze of new coach Jenny Lonergan.

"We have to find more minutes and opportunities for Keely," Goriss said.

"She's coming off a great WNBL season and what she's done with three-on-three, in the Waratah League and World University Games. We have to find her more opportunities with court time."

Lonergan was also named coach of the year ahead of this weekend's semi-final clash against Norths Bears.

The Nationals will face the Norths on Saturday 3pm, at Breakers Indoor Sports Stadium in Terrigal.

The winner will take on either Newcastle Hunters or Hornsby Spiders for the title on Sunday.