Vicki Linton's squad is stuck in preseason limbo for the foreseeable future after Canberra's lockdown, which has now stretched to three weeks, was recently extended to at least September 17.

Each player has been given a strength and conditioning program to follow, and for star midfielder Laura Hughes, who recently put pen to paper on a one-year contract extension, that has meant a major focus on cardio fitness.

"It's been tough, it's a lot of running and trying to stay motivated and keep training with lots of the running has been keeping me fit," Hughes said.

"It's been a really good time for me to pick on things that I want to improve, and I want to bring into this W-League season. So, I have been able to do that in my own sessions to be able to improve on the things I want to.

"Although it's been challenging with staying fit and everything like that, it's been really good for me as well to improve what I want to do."

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Hughes became the third Canberra United player this week to commit to the club for the upcoming W-League season, alongside star striker Michelle Heyman and defender Emma Ilijoski.

The 20-year-old will embark on her fifth season in green, following a breakout summer in which she established herself as a rock in Linton's midfield, playing in every match.

Her consistency led United back to the finals, and earned her a spot in the post-season Matildas talent squad.

"It's a bit of a reality check for me to see how I go against players my age, and players older than me that have been apart of that Matildas' setup for a few years," Hughes said.

"Canberra United has done so much for me giving me a chance at such a young age so I wanted to pay that back.

"Canberra's my home and I just love playing for the club and the fans."