A week from hell in the training hall will steel the Canberra Capitals' mindset as they brace for four games in a 10-day stretch.
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Canberra's abandoned clash with the Perth Lynx, originally scheduled for January 5, will now be played on Wednesday January 22 at the National Convention Centre.
Wedging the game in a midweek timeslot means Capitals coach Paul Goriss will have to get his squad up four times between January 17 and January 26.
But first comes a chance to get their campaign back on track against the Townsville Fire at Townsville Stadium on Friday night.
A loss to cellar dwellers Bendigo left Goriss frustrated by a lack of toughness and character when the game was on the line - so he revamped the training schedule.
The Capitals got a rude shock when they turned up to training on Monday and soon found themselves in the thick of Goriss' dreaded "hell week".
He took star players to task in a video session. They did sprints and push-ups at the slightest sign of breaking. A training session that often wraps up a little after 5.30pm went until precisely 6.52pm.
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All in a bid to rediscover the toughness that made the Capitals champions last season.
"It's been challenging for everyone. I've challenged the girls in different ways, whether it be mentally or physically," Goriss said.
"We had a great team meeting on Monday to revisit our goals and what we wanted to achieve over the course of our season leading into the playoffs.
"We're also getting back to showing some video about areas we can improve. It's been a challenging week, mentally and physically on the court, which is probably good for us.
"Looking back last year, about six weeks out we had this change in focus we went into, and it's just a refreshing thing even though the girls may see it as a physically tough thing.
"Townsville are a physical team, the two encounters we've had so far have been really physical encounters.
"We needed to up the level of competitiveness and toughness at practice, knowing they'll be physical at home and they're a tough team to play at home."
Goriss is hoping to bring co-captain Kelsey Griffin back onto the court next week as she continues on the comeback trail from a high ankle sprain.
Her absence is a major blow for the Capitals in a tough run home but centre Marianna Tolo says there is no room for excuses as Canberra look to bounce back on the road.
"No one wants to lose to the bottom team, and doing that has put a little bit more fire in our belly because we want to head into the finals rolling and with a bit of confidence," Tolo said.
"It's challenging having Kelsey out, and it just shows us we have a little less depth and it means we have to step up. We have to continue to make practice hard and challenge each other so we continue to get better."
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Friday: Townsville Fire v Canberra Capitals at Townsville Stadium, 8pm.
- Canberra's rescheduled game against the Perth Lynx at the National Convention Centre on January 22 will be dedicated to raising funds for the bushfire relief. The Capitals have committed $2 to Red Cross for every person in attendance.