Froling sisters set to ignite 'really intense' WNBL rivalry as Canberra Capitals face Sydney Flames

You swear to yourself Keely Froling left the Canberra Capitals in the WNBL off-season. Then it clicks.

One twin skipped town and another rolled in. This is Alicia Froling, and she is determined to make her own mark at the club her sister helped to two championships.

Perhaps it's only fitting her first game for the Capitals comes against her sister's new team, the Sydney Flames, in Homebush on Sunday afternoon.

But spare a thought for Capitals coach Paul Goriss, who admits he's found himself blurting out the wrong name at practice from time to time during pre-season.

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"I started the nicknames K-Frol and A-Frol when we were back at the institute, and I never should have," Goriss grinned.

Because every time he yells out "K-Frol" at Capitals training these days, there's a simple punishment waiting at the end of the session.

"I tell him that's a suicide every time he messes it up," Froling said.

The family name needs little introduction to Australian basketball fans. Father Shane played in the NBL. Mother Jenny was a WNBL champion. Brothers Sam and Harry have linked up at the Illawarra Hawks. Keely has already won titles with the Capitals.

Now there is another relishing the chance to establish herself as a WNBL force in Canberra following a stint with Bendigo - and there will be no love lost between the two sisters whose off-season one-on-one battles have been brutal enough to cause busted noses.

"She's been throwing some sledges over the radio I've heard," Froling said.

"I played last season in WNBL against her and then in NBL1. NBL1 was really intense, we were going basket for basket for a little bit there. It's just intense, it's another level of competitiveness. I don't think we want each other to one up the other.

"I know how she plays, it's not easy to defend her but I know her moves, I know her little things she likes to do. It's definitely an advantage. I know she is going to be aggressive the whole time, I've just got to play her as a scorer and not let her get any baskets."

Goriss admits the lead-up to the season opener has been a combination of guesswork and individual scouts given so little is known about the new-look Flames.

The same goes for the Capitals, who have recruited new players to complement the likes of Kelsey Griffin, Britt Smart, Jade Melbourne, Abby Cubillo and Tahlia Tupaea.

But one player on each side knows one of their rivals better than any other.

"Alicia has settled in really well, better than I actually expected her to," Goriss said.

"We know she is a hard-worker, that's a Froling trait, but it's just offensively, her cutting and moving off the ball. She's a different kind of player to Keely, she's more of a five and back to the basket, and more of a finisher in and around the basket.

"It's always a battle when those two play each other, at times they nullify each other when they're matched up on each other because they just thug each other. Hopefully we'll keep them away from each other as much as possible and let them be themselves.

"Alicia has fitted in like she has been here the last three or four years, she's a welcome addition for us and a different kind of player."

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