Paul Goriss thinks it must be a coach thing.
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The Canberra Capitals mentor would give plenty for another two or three weeks of pre-season training.
But his players? The moment they step onto the AIS Arena court for their WNBL season opener on Sunday, he knows they will be ready.
Sure, they will meet the side many believe is the team to beat in the Adelaide Lightning without Marianna Tolo and Mikaela Ruef, but the Capitals as "as ready as we can be".
The absence of two key players due to a foot infection and immigration delays comes at a frustrating time but the Capitals have been here before.
They started last season without two key players and got off to a stellar start. That's not to say history will repeat itself in a grand final rematch, but it is just one history lesson steeling this year's group.
"We had a team meeting [on Friday night] and spoke about the tradition and the history of the Caps and what this group wants to achieve," Goriss said.
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"Last year we were largely able to protect our home court and that's another thing we want to do, we want to ensure when they come here, no one enjoys playing the Caps in Canberra.
"Everyone is fired up to protect our home court. We know we have got the talent to do that early even though we are a bit thin.
"We know we still have talent with who we've got suiting up. There will be a few nerves for some of the newer ones but they're excited to get there."
The Capitals pride themselves on their defence, which was the best in the league last year and laid a platform for a drought-breaking title.
Now Goriss wants to repeat the dose, and there could be no greater test. Adelaide have already had a chance to dust off the cobwebs in their season opening-win over the Sydney Flames on Friday night.
Leading the way were the likes of Nicole Seekamp, Steph Talbot, Lauren Nicholson, Brianna Turner and Crystal Langhorne. Off the bench come the likes of Nat Hurst and Chelsea Brook.
"When they're starting with three Opals and two WNBA-level imports, they're going to be tough," Goriss said.
"They want to push the tempo, they want a high possession game, they want to attack the basket with speed and be aggressive. It'll test our defensive pressure and our transition defence early in the first game of the season.
"They're a quality team, and they've been predicted to be No. 1, so it's a good test for us in going against the top-ranked team."
The Capitals will fight fire with fire with a pair of guards in Olivia Epoupa and Maddison Rocci looking to set the tone.
Around them is "a warrior" in Kelsey Griffin, an imposing defensive presence in Marianna Tolo and an emerging star in Keely Froling.
As for Kia Nurse? Goriss is banking on much of the same that made her a WNBA All-Star during the off-season.
"You forget how young she is and how she is still continuing to grow and develop," Goriss said.
"We'll be getting the ball in her hands and have her draining threes. We're getting much more well-rounded player at both ends of the court.
"We hang our hat on playing great team basketball at both ends of the floor. We're team-first.
"That's where we won it last year, the team comes before any individual."