'I have to be on top of my game': Keely Froling steps up for Canberra Capitals in WNBL

But the Canberra Capitals forward is relishing the chance to cover a gaping hole left by co-captains Marianna Tolo and Kelsey Griffin should they miss the WNBL season opener.

Griffin [back] and Tolo [foot] are under injury clouds leading into Canberra's round one clash with the Adelaide Lightning at Mackay Stadium next Wednesday night.

Capitals coach Paul Goriss is refusing to rush players back from injury as the Capitals prepare for the most hectic WNBL schedule they could have imagined.

It opens the door for Froling to stand tall once more, just as she did when she kick-started a breakout campaign in Tolo's absence at the beginning of last season.

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"This year I was always going to have a bigger role and now we have a few niggles going around, so I do have to be on top of my game from game one," Froling said.

"That's exciting for me and a really good opportunity for me. You saw that last year so I know I have the confidence to do that. It is just going to be about everyone, everyone has to step up now.

"It's not just going to be one or two people, it's everyone, all the way through to our 11th and 12th players. Everyone has a chance to play hard and play well."

The Capitals will head north on Friday as they prepare to launch a 14-game regular season with the entire competition to be run and won in little more than a month.

It will be among the most testing schedules in league history with this Capitals outfit looking to become Canberra's first team to win three consecutive championships.

The Capitals have a chance to become the first franchise to pull off a three-peat in 24 years but Goriss and his squad are refusing to cast their sights to the December 20 decider.

Because to get there they will have to overcome a remarkably gruelling schedule which could see them play as many as 17 games in 39 days.

"I'm really excited to get playing again because it's been so long. I'd be lying if I said there weren't a few nerves there and a little bit of 'what if?', because we've never played like this before," Froling said.

"We usually play 21 games over four or five months, whereas now we're playing 14 games in 31 days or something which is crazy.

"I'm excited to be playing again but there is that little bit of the unknown, which is exciting but on the other hand, we're going to have to be on top of everything to make sure we're at the top of our game."

CANBERRA CAPITALS 2020 FIXTURE

All times in AEDT.

Round one: Wednesday, November 11 - Adelaide Lightning v Canberra Capitals at Mackay Stadium, 6pm.

Round one: Sunday, November 15 - Canberra Capitals v Townsville Fire at Mackay Stadium, 8pm.

Round two: Monday, November 16 - Canberra Capitals v Bendigo Spirit at Mackay Stadium, 6pm.

Round two: Wednesday, November 18 - Melbourne Boomers v Canberra Capitals at Mackay Stadium, 6pm.

Round two: Saturday, November 21 - Sydney Flames v Canberra Capitals at Cairns Pop-Up Arena, 9.30pm

Round three: Monday, November 23 - Southside Flyers v Canberra Capitals at Cairns Pop-Up Arena, 6pm.

Round three: Wednesday, November 25 - Canberra Capitals v Sydney Flames at Cairns Pop-Up Arena, 6pm.

Round three: Thursday, November 26 - Canberra Capitals v Perth Lynx at Cairns Pop-Up Arena, 7pm.

Round three: Saturday, November 28 - Bendigo Spirit v Canberra Capitals at Townsville Stadium, 7.30pm.

Round four: Tuesday, December 1 - Canberra Capitals v Melbourne Boomers at Townsville Stadium, 5pm.

Round four: Friday, December 4 - Canberra Capitals v Adelaide Lightning at Townsville Stadium, 6pm.

Round four: Sunday, December 6 - Townsville Fire v Canberra Capitals at Townsville Stadium, 6pm.

Round five: Thursday, December 10 - Perth Lynx v Canberra Capitals at Townsville Stadium, 7pm.

Round five: Saturday, December 12 - Canberra Capitals v Southside Flyers at Townsville, 5pm.