Canberra coach Carrie Graf says her captain Abby Bishop is the standout contender for the WNBL MVP award after a career-best performance helped propel the surging Caps into the top four.
Canberra made it four straight victories with two road wins in Victoria, knocking off two-time defending champions Bendigo 73-70 and fellow finals aspirant Melbourne 74-66.
With superstar centre Lauren Jackson and forward Hanna Zavecz back from injury, Graf finally as her full roster to throw at opposing teams.
"It's been far from perfect injury wise, but we're in a position where we're fourth right now with three games to play in the season," Graf told AAP.
"We have to win every game."
Ladder-leading Townsville did the Caps a favour with a crushing 93-60 home win over Sydney on Sunday, in which three Fire players tallied 20 or more, headed by 22 from Steph Cumming.
Bendigo won 80-55 at West Coast in Sunday's other game, while Dandenong made it seven straight victories with a 95-64 home thrashing of last-placed Adelaide.
Canberra came from 16 down in the third quarter to beat Bendigo, with Bishop bagging 25 points and 10 rebounds and Jackson 17 and 9.
Bishop then scored a WNBL career-best 36 and pulled down 14 boards in the victory over Melbourne, in which she was the Caps' only double-digit scorer.
She is averaging 22.9 points and 11.3 rebounds a game.
"I think she (Bishop) is the frontrunner for the MVP, she's had an outstanding season," Graf said.
"She pulls big numbers in rebounding and points week in, week out.
"She leads our team exceptionally well for a 26-year-old. and is in my mind a standout for MVP and I think most coaches around the league would agree."
Jackson, who has played just six games this season since coming back from injury, is averaging 13.3 points and 7.8 rebounds a game.
She nailed four three-pointers against Bendigo, but was held to a season-low six points by Melbourne and is shooting a WNBL career-worst 38 per cent from the field.
"I think that will come back," Graf said.
"With her knee injury at the moment, she's not in a situation that she can do a lot of practice, she's limited to the work she can do on her game at the moment.
"That's frustrating for her but it's her defensive presence for us, it's her rebounding and opposition teams know they can't leave her alone.
"Her field goal and three-point clip might not be what it's been previously, but she's still deadly and makes big shots at critical moments.
"Lauren provides massive rebound support for Abby and stretches defences because she's still got a great three-point shot."
Graf said Jackson will require "full rehab" on her knee once the season is over.
"She is focused on playing out our season and she is handling adversity of having to play a season with an injured knee exceptionally well."
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