The Canberra Capitals are sending a message to other WNBL teams to not underestimate them, as they look to reclaim their spot on top.
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The side are counting down the days until their first fixture, following a six-week preseason stint, and are looking to build on their form last season to get back to their grand final winning ways.
Abby Cubillo has tasted the glory of the winning days, heading into her fourth WNBL season, and sent a message to the league ahead of Sunday's tip-off.
"I think some people might underestimate us, but I'm pretty sure we're gonna shock some people," she said.
"We have a great group of people, first of all, that get along really well and I think that translates to how we play.
"We play hard and we play for each other."
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Despite having a number of minutes under her belt, she credits the teams success, and her own, to the strong leadership groups Paul Goriss has continued to build in his side.
This season that leadership group will be without a stalwart from previous seasons, Marianna Tolo, but still has Kelsey Griffin, Kelly Wilson and Brittney Sykes for guidance.
"The leadership we have from Kelsey, Kelly and Slim [Sykes] coming in, her leadership is incredible and she has a different mindset coming from the WNBA which is great for us," Cubillo said.
"[I'm] definitely a lot more confident. I've learned so much more than I could explain. It's been great.
"I've had some great leaders over the time. The team lead by Gozz [Goriss], Kelsey, Kelly and [Marianna] Tolo of course, who's not here this season ... so I've been very lucky."
The Capitals face the Sydney Uni Flames on Sunday afternoon at Brydens Stadium, with the Froling twins set to face off in the bout.
Keely Froling will be suiting up for the Flames this season, whilst Alicia Froling will be in the Capitals' blue.
Capitals forward Mikaela Ruef will likely come face-to-face with Keely and said there were some advantages to training alongside each other last season.
Ruef echoed Cubillo's warning and said the squad's depth would create a headache for other teams.
"We can play a lot of different line-ups and with those line-ups we can do different things," she said.
"We can come in with a big line-up and be really powerful, and we can come in with a small one, and it can be much quicker, more transition type team.
"So I think we have the personnel to do a lot of different things."
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Isobel Cootes
Sports reporter at The Canberra Times. A Novocastrian with a passion for football (or soccer as they call it in the capital) via The Examiner and The Port Lincoln Times.
Sports reporter at The Canberra Times. A Novocastrian with a passion for football (or soccer as they call it in the capital) via The Examiner and The Port Lincoln Times.
