Australian Opals hopeful Alex Bunton wants to prove she has buried her injury demons as she chase an international dream as the next step in her basketball career.
The Canberra junior was named in the Opals squad on Wednesday as new coach Sandy Brondello turns to a new generation to rebuild Australian women's basketball.
Former Canberra captains Abby Bishop and Marianna Tolo were also in the squad alongside Nat Hurst, Lauren Mansfield and incoming Capital Rachel Jarry for a training camp in Arizona from June 25.
It's a massive moment for Bunton, who has had multiple knee operations and missed almost a year of basketball in 2015 after injuring her foot.
"I think my body is craving training and game time now," Bunton said.
"My knee and my body has held up and I've come back from Europe and I'm surprised with how it's all feeling.
"I [was in Opals training camps] a few years ago, but then I was injured and that sort of ruled me out around the Olympic Games.
"I had a few years where I had to rehab again but now I'm back and hopefully I can go well at these camps to try to get a spot."
The Opals will spend a week with Brondello in Arizona before a team is picked for the women's Asia Cup in Bangalore.
Brondello, who coaches the Phoenix Mercury in the WNBA, will be unavailable to lead the Opals to the Asia Cup due to her commitments in the United States.
Capitals coach Paul Goriss and Cheryl Chambers, who are Brondello's Australian assistants, will step up in her absence to take charge of the team.
Bishop is back in the national squad after being overlooked for the Opals' Olympic squad last year, but a change in coach could launch her back into the starting team.
Bishop, Bunton and Hurst have been playing in Europe to test themselves overseas while Tolo is also close to finalising her future abroad.
Bunton, a 196 centimetre centre, says she is undecided on where she will play next season and the Capitals could come knocking as they search for a way to replace Tolo.
But the 22-year-old is keen to extend her stint in Europe after a season with Dynamo Moscow in Russia.
Bunton started her WNBL career at the AIS before joining the Capitals and then moving to the Adelaide Lightning and Dandenong Rangers.
"I think I want to keep going down that European path," Bunton said.
"I love the physicality over there and the different kind of basketball. The WNBL is turning a corner now that it's back on television.
"But I've had a crack at Europe and I think it's best to keep going over there while I can. I haven't put myself out there [to any offers] so I'll just wait and see."
The Opals will play Korea, the Philippines and Japan in the pool stages of the Asia Cup, with the top four teams at the tournament to earn a spot at the World Cup next year.
Bunton is a former Australian under-17s and under-19s player and is keen to show Brondello her ability.
"It's nice to be there at the start of a campaign as well with a new coach and everything because last time I was in and out, which made it harder to fit in," Bunton said.
"I'm there now, and even if I don't make the World Cup squad then I'm still on the fringes. I'm excited."
