Canberra Capitals coach Carrie Graf says the team must find ways to win without their injured stars, but is hopeful of having veteran guard Michelle Cosier return to the court for the first time in 18 months.
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Cosier is set to make her 227th appearance in the WNBL when the Capitals host the Dandenong Rangers at the AIS Arena on Saturday.
The 32-year-old sat out the entire 2013-14 season to have her second child, Levi, and has missed the opening three games this season with a hamstring injury.
Her experience will be crucial to the Capitals as they continue to play without superstar centre Lauren Jackson and recruit Hanna Zavecz.
The Capitals received important contributions from some of their lesser lights in last weekend's 67-60 loss to defending champions Bendigo Spirit, with Alice Coddington impressing in her first start and Abigail Wehrung providing plenty of spark off the bench.
Graf praised the performance of her back-up players and knows her team's depth will be tested.
"We're light on, down two starters and an impact bench player, and that's where your bench has to be ready," Graf said.
"We're hopeful we'll have Michelle Cosier back this week and we know we'll have Lauren back before Christmas.
"We've got to find ways to win while we get the full complement of players back on the floor."
Jackson is expected back before Christmas while Zavecz is out for six to eight weeks recovering from knee surgery.
The Capitals and the Rangers have both won one of their first three games to sit outside the top four.
Their round three match was billed as the clash between Jackson and Opals star Liz Cambage.
However, Cambage will miss the whole season recovering from a torn Achilles tendon while Jackson will watch from the sidelines.
In Cambage's absence, the Rangers have relied heavily on their American star, Cappie Pondexter.
The New York Liberty guard did not disappoint, dropping in 30 points and collecting 10 rebounds in a loss to the Sydney Uni Flames.
Capitals captain Abby Bishop has been just as impressive, racking in 18 rebounds to go with 19 points against Bendigo.
Bishop believes containing Pondexter is going to take a total team effort.
"She's a world class player and she's going to score, so I think it's about limiting her touches," Bishop said.
"It's just about bringing that down a little bit and everyone else locking up their players and limiting them, which is going to be really important.
"Regardless of our defence, she's still going to score."
