Australian Opals world championship-winning coach Jan Stirling says "it's our time" to win Olympic Games gold, imploring officials to give injured superstar Lauren Jackson as long as possible to prove she can play in Rio.
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Jackson is racing against time to overcome the knee problems that have plagued her in recent seasons and kept her out of the Canberra Capitals' disastrous WNBL campaign.
It is hoped the four-time Olympian will be able to return to the court in January to start building momentum to what will be her last chance to beat arch rivals the USA and win the gold medal missing from her trophy cabinet.
Opals coach Brendan Joyce said Jackson would be given extra time to prove her fitness, hoping to know by May if Australia's greatest female basketballer will be fit for a trip to Rio in August.
Even if Jackson doesn't make it back in time to play in the WNBL, FIBA Hall of Fame member Stirling says the star will still be a crucial cog to the Opals' hopes of success.
"You'd like all of your elite players fit for the Olympics and I know Lauren is working really hard to achieve that," Stirling said.
"There's no doubt that for me, Lauren at 80 per cent is still an add-value element to the Opals. She's got a lot of hard work to do and certainly makes the Opals better when she's out there."
Stirling has re-joined Basketball Australia as the general manager of high performance. It comes almost 10 years after she guided the Opals to world championship glory and as the men's and women's team sit on the cusp of a new era.
The Opals are trying to end the United States' stranglehold on Olympic gold, while the Boomers are capable of breaking through for their first Olympic medal with Patrick Mills, Andrew Bogut, Matthew Dellavedova, Dante Exum, Ben Simmons and Aron Baynes leading the charge.
Jackson has been the spearhead of the Opals international success since breaking into the national team as a teenager.
The 34-year-old has been frustrated by injuries over the past four years, but continually fights back and is refusing to give up on her fifth Olympic campaign.
"The big one for me is hopefully we can get Lauren in the mix to be competitive and see if she can have a shot, she's a proven player," Joyce said.
"Lauren and Penny Taylor are our greatest players, they've played big minutes in big games at the Olympics.
"Hopefully we know by April or May with Lauren. You have to leave it open because she's been a phenomenal player, I've seen it first-hand.
"She's special, has an incredible skill package and mindset that I know if she's healthy enough, she can step on the floor and have a tremendous impact. How could you not allow her the opportunity to have a crack."
The Capitals are struggling without their marquee star, languishing at the bottom of the WNBL ladder after 13 consecutive losses.
Being forced to watch the team's on-court struggles adds more pain to Jackson's frustration given she is unable to help, but she has been working through intense rehabilitation to be back as fast as possible.
Stirling led the Opals from 2001-2008, winning world championships gold and silver, as well as two Olympic silver medals.
"Without question now is the time to strike for the Opals. Just look at the players coming through and Liz Cambage with her development," Stirling said.
"We've never had that real big two-prong attack that can be so devastating that clearly Liz and Lauren can be. I think it's our time. Attrition is something that hits all teams and I think America are there at the moment."
Stirling's role as the general manager of high performance will be to direct resources and players to help Basketball Australia "achieve greatness".
Stirling will occasionally travel to Canberra to visit the Basketball Centre of Excellence at the AIS.
