Keely Froling will use the second half of the WNBL season to launch her Olympic Games selection bid as she juggles title hopes, a Tokyo dream and a university degree.
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The Canberra Capitals' star on the rise is enjoying a breakout WNBL campaign, helping the defending champions to a five-game winning streak.
The next task is toppling the Bendigo Spirit on the road on Friday night, but Froling also has the Tokyo Olympics in the back of her mind after making her mark in three on three over the past 12 months.
Froling is hoping the new Olympic sport can be her ticket to the Games and she will start extra training next week after she sits her final university exam of the year.
There is less than eight months until the Tokyo opening ceremony, which puts Froling on track for the most hectic period of her booming basketball career.
Australia will have to qualify a three on three team for the sport's Olympic debut when they play in a tournament in India early next year, expected to be just weeks after the WNBL grand final.
Twenty teams will be battling for three Tokyo spots.
"It's definitely in the back of my mind. I have my last exam [on Wednesday] and when that's done I'm really going to start ramping up fitness," Froling said.
"It's a whole different fitness thing [in three on three] and we have a camp in March before the qualifying tournament. I'm trying not to think about the Olympics yet because we still have to qualify ... but I think we can do it.
"It's always in the back of my mind, how could it not be? It's going to be a massive couple of months to start next year ... it's a big time, but it's also exciting. That's what you dream of as a kid, to play in national league grand finals and the Olympics."
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Froling has been playing around the world this year, testing herself in Europe and Asia in the three on three format.
But she says her only immediate focus is making sure the Capitals maintain the momentum they've built over the past two months.
The chance to train against reigning WNBL most valuable player Kelsey Griffin has given Froling an aggressive edge to her game this year, with the 23-year-old recording career-best statistics.
"I've learnt a lot playing against her every day. My mindset is if I can play against her every day, why can't I play against anyone else in the league," Froling said.
The Capitals haven't lost a game since the end of October, but are wary of the unpredictable Spirit who boast Canberra title-winner Kelly Wilson.
Bendigo has won just two of nine games so far this season, including defeats in the past four games in a row.
"They're a dangerous team at home this week," said coach Paul Goriss.
"This week for us it's about defensive execution.
"I was fortunate enough to coach [Wilson] for one season ... she's super competitive, will give her all for 40 minutes and will her team to win. She'll make people around her better, she's always a dangerous proposition so we have to do a job on her defensively."
Kia Nurse (ankle) is on limited training duties, but is expected to play this week.
WNBL ROUND EIGHT
Friday: Bendigo Spirit v Canberra Capitals at Ballarat, 7.05pm.