'A dream': Canberra Capitals young gun Jade Melbourne eyes FIBA World Cup

That's just what the Canberra Capitals mentor has in 19-year-old Jade Melbourne, and that's why she is knocking on the door of the Opals squad for next year's World Cup in Sydney.

Melbourne is the youngest player in Opals coach Sandy Brondello's 24-player squad leading into September's international tournament, with the door open for others to force their way into contention before the final squad is trimmed.

The rising star has already emerged as a dazzling talent at WNBL level, with her next outing against the Sydney Flames in Canberra on Sunday, and now she finds herself dreaming of helping Australia to international success on home soil.

"It would be unbelievable at such a young age. It would be a dream come true, I've always wanted to play at the highest level and put the green and gold on," Melbourne said.

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"I'm super excited just to work with those players. I've got no expectations going into the camp, I'm just going to give it my best shot and if that means I get a spot in the squad, it would be unbelievable.

"It's just learning from the older girls that have been there before. They all just have such knowledge and such experience in different leagues and they're all willing to share that with me.

"I've learnt different things along the way, nothing in particular, but just a heap of little things I have put into my game. I continue to learn so I'm super excited to continue that growth and development and to get amongst it all. I seriously can't wait."

Melbourne has already got a taste of life as an Opal during the Asia Cup, during which Goriss stood in as head coach.

That tournament gave the Capitals mentor a chance to see the rising star in a different light. No longer was she a starter lighting up her rookie WNBL season in a north Queensland hub or leading the nation's under 19s team to a World Cup gold medal game.

Melbourne had to play a different role in a vastly more experienced line-up - and it added another string to her bow.

"Obviously her minutes were not where she would have had with under 19s or with us in the hub, but it was a more senior group at Asia Cup," Goriss said.

"Her ability to come off the bench and provide a spark definitely helped in Asia Cup. She had to get used to biding her time in a senior group, and she fulfilled the role she needed to play.

"You want people to want to play more, and want to prove you wrong and prove they deserve more court time. Jade does it in the right way, it's about whinging, complaining and sulking on the sideline.

"I think she does it by working even harder, by cheering on her teammates on the sideline, and working on her game. That's a great attribute of a young player.

"She's shown the way, you're not going to sit on the sideline and sulk, you're actually going to do the work and be happy for your teammates to be successful."

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