Netball ACT will begin exploring potential business partners to help it launch a bid for a Canberra team in an expanded ANZ Championship.
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Netball Australia has called for expressions of interest for three new Australian teams to enter the Trans-Tasman competition from 2017.
Interested parties have until March to present their case before a decision is made on any new teams in the middle of next year.
It is the first major outcome of the review process that is being conducted by Netball Australia and Netball New Zealand, who jointly created the competition in 2008.
Netball ACT general manager Adam Horner said his organisation would take all the necessary steps to present its best case for inclusion.
"There obviously is interest from us," Horner said. "The ANZ Championship is the premier club competition in Australia and New Zealand and every state in Australia would want to secure a licence if it's possible to do so.
"There is a lot of work to make sure it's a sustainable and competitive team we put in place.
"We're taking it very seriously and looking at all of the options to do exactly that.
"We wouldn't do it if we didn't think it was a realistic option."
The five Australian teams currently in the competition are the NSW Swifts, Queensland Firebirds, Melbourne Vixens, Adelaide Thunderbirds and West Coast Fever.
The NSW Swifts played a regular season game at the AIS Arena last year.
Netball Australia chief executive Kate Palmer said Canberra was a city that had potential to host an ANZ Championship team.
"We've had preliminary discussions with Netball ACT over a period of time about the Canberra market because we obviously think that's an important market for our sport and there are other professional sporting teams who play in Canberra," Palmer said.
"It's been in Netball ACT's thinking for a number of years.
"What Netball ACT are doing is seeing who the potential partners are who might be able to partner with them to deliver an ANZ Championship team.
"Netball ACT is a relatively small organisation and this type of team needs a high-performance environment and some strong commercial backing.
"It would be really critical to partner with someone who could help them develop that."
Canberra's premier team, the Canberra Darters, currently plays in the second-tier Australian Netball League.
Netball New Zealand remains committed to its five teams.
The ANZ Championship is played over 18 weeks from March to July.
"That means looking at things like competitive balance, rule innovations, and finding new ways of reaching and engaging new audiences and commercial partners," Palmer said.
"We now have five strong, successful and sustainable teams, and there is no doubt that we have the capacity for further growth.
"All the research in Australia, points to the opportunity for more Australian teams, and more home games.
"Now we need to further capitalise on that success, and realise the commercial potential of our sport.
"Here in Australia, that means securing a long-term broadcast partner who we can work with to create an even more dynamic entertainment product that will attract new viewers and fans."
