Opals coach Brendan Joyce is drawing a line underneath Liz Cambage's controversial exclusion from the team's Olympics qualifiers this weekend, saying positives will be found despite the star's absence.
Cambage was left out of the two-game series against New Zealand after failing to complete a required medical assessment on her injured achilles.
After the 23-year-old walked away from a legal effort to be reinstated, Joyce named a 12-woman group which includes emerging 22-year-old Victorians Sara Blicavs, Alice Kunek and Tessa Lavey and 21-year-old Steph Talbot.
Joyce said he was not planning on Cambage's involvement in the two-match series in any case.
"It was always going to be tight," he said.
"It's not like a sprained ankle - a snapped achilles tendon (has meant) she hasn't played for over 11 months.
"We never counted on her, it was always going to be a bonus (if Cambage was available)."
Cambage is running well and working in the gym as she continues her rehabilitation.
Without the New Zealand matches, Joyce said Cambage's work would be backed off to prepare for her return to club basketball in China in October.
Without the powerful centre in the national team - and other senior players absent with WNBA clubs - Joyce said other Opals had a chance to step up and make a run for a place in the Rio 2016 Games.
"We had a young group two years ago that played New Zealand to go on and play at the World Championships," he said.
"Six of those players went on to play at the Worlds, if you had of asked how many I thought would at the time, I would have only said two or three.
"It could be up to that number again from this team."
Not that Joyce is taking qualification for granted.
"I'm quietly confident. I'm never overconfident or complacent," he said.
"Our motto is to respect everyone and fear no one, that's how we approach it."
Share
