Because ahead of the 35-year-old is a chance to make history with a group that has claimed consecutive WNBL titles, yet the fire burns brightly as ever in search of the club's first three-peat.

The make-up of the final four will boil down to the final day of the regular season as the championship favourites scramble for a second chance in the playoffs.

The Capitals could face a must-win scenario if they want to secure a top two finish and avoid a sudden death playoff when they face the Southside Flyers at Townsville Stadium on Sunday.

Canberra boast a 9-3 record heading into their clash with the ladder-leading Flyers, with their game slated to tip off a tick after 3pm AEDT.

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The third-ranked Melbourne Boomers, who boast an identical 9-3 record, will face fourth-placed Townsville beforehand.

It means Melbourne have a chance to leapfrog Canberra, which would send the Capitals into a sudden-death semi-final on Wednesday.

Thus every team has everything to play for when it matters most - and that's exactly why Smart jumped at the chance to join the Capitals this season.

"Obviously a lot of girls came back from last season however this exact group has never been together," Smart said.

"It's still a new challenge, a new adversity to hit, a new goal to reach which has never been done with this exact group and probably will never be done again with the exact same coaching staff and players.

"The experienced players from the past two years, they still have that fire and motivation to win this year because it's still a new challenge with all the new people coming along like myself, Tahlia [Tupaea], Hannah [Kaser] and Ashley [Taia].

"That's what has been cool about it, they're not even necessarily talking about three-peat, because they want to be able to do it one time with this group.

"That's been pretty cool, to go on this journey with them even though it has been short with the hub. It's been good, it's been short, I feel like I'm just hitting my stride and figuring out my role with this team, but I'm really thankful for the opportunity, even if it is a shorter season."

If you need an idea of just how frantic this season has been, take a moment to ponder the fact the WNBL champions will be crowned in seven days.

The WNBL playoffs have been revamped for the condensed season, with major and minor semi-finals replacing the best of three format used in recent years.

The top two teams will meet in the first semi-final, with the winner advancing straight to the decider and the loser getting a second chance in a preliminary final.

"I've actually enjoyed the hub in many ways, because you are with your team and it's almost like a six to weight-week business trip," Smart said.

"You have one focus, one goal, everything you do is geared to putting your best foot forward, giving yourself the best chance to win, the best chance to perform, the best chance to succeed and help others succeed.

"In that aspect, I love it. Because I love basketball, fitness, strength and conditioning, all of my passions are in one hub.

"It has been intense. When it's all said and done, it will be nice to have a little bit of reprieve, but it will be much sweeter if we can reach that goal we set out for ourselves at the beginning of the season."

WNBL

Round five: Sunday, December 13 - Canberra Capitals v Southside Flyers at Townsville Stadium, 3pm.