University of Canberra looks to build on University Sevens Series medal

Liam McGrath's outfit is looking to build on its bronze medal - Canberra's first podium finish in three years - in round three of the tournament at the University of Adelaide this weekend.

Canberra's top three finish in round two proved what McGrath had known all along - this group has the ability, they just need to put it together on the park.

He is confident they can repeat the dose as they set their sights on going one game better in search of a breakthrough gold medal.

"Moving forward, the belief within the group is there now so they feel very confident and they feel like there is really good cohesion within the group," McGrath said.

"We have been able to try a few different things in training to expand that knowledge and throw a few different things at other teams.

"They will obviously fall back into some of that structure we gave them in round two, but you will probably see a few things you haven't seen before from a few players.

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"Now they feel really comfortable and confident within the environment.

"We knew after round one they were capable, and we knew that going in.

"We did know they were going to be nervous, a lot of them hadn't had exposure at that level and a lot of them hadn't experienced playing together as a group.

"We were really hopeful coming into round two that some of those things would start to click and they clicked straight away on day one."

Canberra will take a similar squad into the third leg of the tournament with injury forcing McGrath to make two changes.

Sammie Wood (knee) and Kobe Nona (broken finger) drop out of the 12-player squad at the expense of Ainsley Scrivener and Aroha Spillane.

Canberra captain Skye Churchill hopes the chance to find continuity within the squad will lay the platform for them to climb higher than fifth on the overall table.

The scenes on the final day in round two suggest they are more than capable.

"I have never quite seen anything like it. I have never been so proud of a team before," Churchill said.

"Everyone was just so excited, so over the moon. We had worked very hard all weekend, in the two weeks leading up to it and all pre-season. It was very nice to get that reward.

"We have a pretty young side with limited experience. This momentum rolling off the back of round two will hopefully allow them to use the skills we know they have and boost their confidence.

"We've put in a lot of work over the past couple of weeks. Hopefully we can at least keep our third place.

"Keeping a similar 12 will allow us to play with players we know. We have gelled a little bit more coming off a bit more game time together."

University of Canberra squad: Skye Churchill (c), Rachel Crothers, Lillyann Mason-Spice, Lily Murdoch, Claudia Obst, Aroha Spillane, Darcy Read, Ainsley Scrivener, Ella Ryan, Brooke Gilroy, Alahna Ryan, Biola Dawa