Friday's WNBL match in Ballarat could prove to be a turning point in the season for the Bendigo Spirit.
The team stumbled out of the gates to start its 2019-20 campaign, and currently holds a record of two wins and seven losses.
The club will face arguably its toughest challenge on Friday when it takes on the reigning WNBL champion Canberra Capitals at the Ballarat Sports and Events Centre.
The match will serve as homecoming for Ballarat juniors Abbey Wehrung and Kasey Burton, who signed with the club during the off-season.
"It's super exciting for me being back home, it will be good and the team is excited to take our league to a different country community," Wehrung told The Courier.
"It's like any other game, but it will be nice to have my family there and see some familiar faces."
The Spirit will have its work cut out against the Capitals, who boasts reigning league's most valuable player Kelsey Griffin. Containing the American import will key for Bendigo as it looks to get its season back on track.
"The main thing is consistent basketball," Wehrung said.
"We've played some great basketball but all the teams are super tough and there is no game you walk into thinking it's a win.
"It's imperative to put together the four quarters and we haven't quite been able to do that so far.
"For us the game will be won defensively and we'll have to put together four quarters of defensive basketball."
Wehrung was a key player for the Emerging Opals during the World University Games earlier his year, but has struggled with injuries during her WNBL campaign.
After being sidelined for most of the preseason, the 23-year-old has been coming off the bench for the Spirit, providing instant offence for head coach Tracy York.
Wehrung said she wants to improve her consistency.
"I'm just trying to attack and be a spark whenever I'm out there and do what the team needs me to do," she said.
Wehrung missed Bendigo's last outing after suffering a concussion in the side's round-six clash with the Melbourne Boomers.
York praised the guard's ability to embrace her role with the team.
"She's been coming off the bench and providing a great spark," she said.
"Hopefully she can be healthy for a period of time because she would probably be a starter for us.
"But she doesn't mind coming off the bench, and has been doing a great job."
The sides will tip-off at 7pm.
