Canberra Capitals young gun Ezi Magbegor says she won't be weighed down by her Commonwealth Games aspirations as she prepares for an Australian Opals audition on Thursday.
Teenage Magbegor met new Opals coach Sandy Brondello for the first time this week and had a one-on-one work out with the four-time Olympian at the AIS.
The training session was a small step in Magbegor's development after breaking into the WNBL this season and establishing herself as a future international star.
The ultimate goal is securing a spot in Brondello's squad to play at the Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast next year.
So a showdown with wily Townsville Fire veteran Suzy Batkovic while Brondello watches from the stands at the National Convention Centre will be a perfect chance to stake her claim.
Brondello has already dubbed Magbegor the "future of the Opals', adding her to a pre-Commonwealth Games squad to train in Italy in February.
But 18-year-old Magbegor is refusing to look beyond the Capitals' clash against the Fire as she puts all of her energy into helping Canberra finish their horror season on a high.
"I'm pretty excited to be working with Sandy, it's great having her look at me to help me develop my skill-set," Magbegor said.
"I have thought about the Commonwealth Games, but I guess for me I'm just trying to get a feel of how the whole Opals experience is.
"The only time I've been to an Opals camp before was as a fill-in, and it was pretty intimidating. All the girls were nice though.
"I'm still pretty nervous about it, even playing in the WNBL against some of the Opals girls.
"[Playing against Townsville] is just another game so basically I'm just looking at getting the win, not showing myself [in front of Brondello]."
The Capitals wil wait until Thursday morning before deciding if skipper Nat Hurst is fit to play after battling to overcome a middle-ear infection.
Rachel Jarry is still be assessed by medical staff and is facing a six-month stint on the sideline after suffering another concussion.
Brondello is in the capital to start her Commonwealth Games preparation and cast her eye over the talent in the WNBL.
Hurst and Magbegor are the only two Capitals in Brondello's initial squad, and the former Opals guard said Canberra's frustrating WNBL campaign would not affect selection decisions.
The Capitals will miss the finals for a sixth-consecutive year, but have found form in the past two weeks to win three games in a row.
"We all go through the losses, but you've just got to stay the course," Brondello said.
"I've just been observing this week and just catching up, it's the the first time I've met players like Ezi and Lauren Scherf, players who have the potential to play for the Opals.
"It's about letting them get to know me and me getting to know them. I'm humbled and honoured to be the Opals coach and it's great to be back in Australian basketball."
Capitals coach Paul Goriss will be Brondello's eyes on the ground in Australia when she's not in the country as the Opals start rebuilding after failing to win a medal at the Rio Olympic Games last year.
WNBL ROUND 11
Thursday: Canberra Capitals v Townsville at National Convention Centre, 7.30pm.
Saturday: Dandenong Rangers v Canberra Capitals at Dandenong, 6.30pm.
