Lavey had a limited role for the Capitals last season and would appear to be squeezed out with the return of championship winner Natalie Hurst from France.

Hurst is expected to form a potent backcourt combination with Nicole Hunt, while the Capitals are also in initial discussions to retain veteran Carly Wilson.

Lavey is one of several current or former Capitals players at a national training camp at the Australian Institute of Sport this week.

The 20-year-old was selected in an Emerging Opals squaad in a sign of her immense potential and is spending the off-season playing for the Canberra Capitals Academy in the South-East Australian Basketball League.

Basketball ACT chief executive Tony Jackson said Lavey had the opportunity to press her claims for the back-up point guard role, along with learning from an experienced player such as Hurst.

‘‘Some people would look at that and say it would deteroiate their potential court time, but other people would say what an opportunity it is to learn and go up against Hurst,’’ Jackson said.

‘‘I think coach Carrie Graf’s plan will be to start Nat Hurst and Nicole Hunt as a one-two punch and swing between both positions, and that means there will always be the need for a good back-up point guard.

‘‘I would like to think players see the positives in learning from great players.’’