Only the bravest of punters would bet against Kelsey Griffin.
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She has bounced back from injury time and time again - so when she says she is confident of a quick return to full-strength, one best listen.
The Canberra Capitals captain and WNBL's reigning most valuable player is determined to make the most of a short pre-season with the opening round around the corner.
A raft of hamstring issues combined with a broken toe and a busted wrist have seen Griffin in rehabilitation since March 1 - just weeks after the Capitals ended their WNBL title drought.
But now Griffin says her hamstrings are "stronger than they've ever been" as she sets her sights on back-to-back titles.
"In a sense I'm as used to it as someone can be," Griffin said.
"Each time you come back there is new challenges, new deficits you have to overcome or movement patterns you have to reprogram. It has its own challenges.
"The one thing I take confidence in is I've been able to do it in the past and so I carry that through. Each time it gets a bit harder.
"I was talking to [wife] Erin, I was saying 'these past three years, I've noticed it takes me ages to warm up'. But once I'm warmed up, I'm good.
"That's just something you learn as you get older, what your body needs to get ready. That's definitely something I am taking on board."
Tickets have gone on sale for the Capitals' championship defence which kicks off against the Adelaide Lightning at the AIS Arena on October 13.
Griffin has set her sights on the season opener, adamant being back for round one was "always the plan".
Truth be told, the hand injury that ruled Griffin out of the Opals' FIBA Asia Cup campaign ended up being a blessing in disguise because it allowed her to strip back rehabilitation on a foot injury and focus on patterning.
"I think that will help me in the long run, instead of rushing things to be back for Asia Cup. Everything as far as I'm feeling seems like it should be right on track," Griffin said.
"I'm really happy with where I'm at. I've done some physical testing this week and my hamstrings are even stronger than they've ever been, so I'm really happy with that.
"Now it's just about playing basketball, I've only been playing for about a week so I'm remembering how to do everything and getting that chemistry built back up."
The Capitals have retained some key cogs from last season's championship-winning roster with Griffin, Marianna Tolo, Kia Nurse, Keely Froling, Maddison Rocci, Abby Cubillo and Kristy Wallace all returning - though the latter is on the comeback trail from an ACL tear.
"I'm really enjoying the girls I'm getting to play with, and the new additions are great people and quite talented as well, so it's turning out to be a short pre-season but a fun one," Griffin said.