The Canberra Capitals have a simple message for any team planning to steal their WNBL championship trophy catch us if you can.
The players insist it's not arrogance.
Instead, it's a mentality drilled into them by coach Carrie Graf.
The Capitals hope to kick-start their bid to win a record seventh WNBL title when they play the Bulleen Boomers at the AIS Arena today.
If they achieve their goal, they will be the most successful club in the competition's 30-year history
If anyone knows about winning titles it's star point guard Nat Hurst.
She has played in all of the Capitals' championship teams and wants to add another to her resume.
''I haven't actually sat down and looked at other teams compared to ours,'' Hurst said.
''But I just know we're going to be competitive with every team and teams will look at us and know it's a strong line-up.
''I think games this season will be tighter, but I'm always confident whatever team we put together we can win a championship.
''I'm not putting the hard word on other teams to come and chase us, but I think our record speaks for itself and there's never a non-competitive Canberra Capitals team out on the court.''
Canberra dominated all of its opponents last season, losing just three of 24 games.
The Capitals beat Bulleen 61-58 in the 2008-09 championship game earlier this year.
With Bulleen still smarting from the three-point defeat, the Capitals know their task to open the season with a victory will not be easy.
Making it even harder is the fact they'll have to do it without WNBL all-star Abby Bishop while the Boomers have recruited Opals Elizabeth Cambage and Jenna O'Hea.
Most of Canberra's rivals have secured key signings in an attempt to take the trophy away from the capital.
Bulleen has Cambage and O'Hea, the Sydney Uni Flames will field Opals Suzy Batkovic-Brown, Natalie Proter and Deanna Smith while Adelaide has gained the services of Renae Camino and Shelley Burston (nee Hammonds).
The Capitals have lured some new recruits as well, adding Carly Wilson, Jess McCormack, Katie Rose and Nicki Graham to their squad.
Canberra skipper Kellie Abrams urged her team to forget about opposition rosters and last season's title.
Abrams is in her 13th season with the Capitals and, barring injury, will play her 250th WNBL game against Benidgo in round 10.
She said the Capitals needed to start fresh and lift their intensity if they wanted to remain at the top of the league.
''Graffy talks about us having to step it up a notch even further this season,'' Abrams said.
''The depth of the league has improved this year so it's definitely going to be tougher to defend the title.
''It's kind of a compliment in some way: teams are going out to recruit quality players to try and knock us off.
''Canberra's a bit of an envy to most teams because we set the benchmark to where they want to be.''
The Capitals did not lose a game in Canberra last season and have not been beaten at Tuggeranong's Southern Cross Stadium in 21 matches over two seasons.