Australia's shock fifth placing at the women's basketball world championships may have happened more than 16 months ago, but it's still fresh in the mind of Opals coach Carrie Graf.
Graf labels it a reality check for those optimists hoping the Opals can claim an ever elusive Olympic gold at the London Games later this year.
The Australian women have claimed a bronze and three silvers from the past four Olympics.
Graf is under no illusion about the challenge that awaits her in London, admitting the Opals will have to do something special to lift beyond their current ranking - a tenuous equal second with Russia behind the United States.
"Gold is not our focus right now," she told AAP.
"First and foremost it's about getting our team together, getting the best possible preparation we can and for us, we're coming off a fifth at the world championships so getting on the podium is going to be tough.
"We need to make sure we have the best preparation that we can can and then get on the podium.
"Then, it's about seeing if we can do something special and try and chase a gold."
Graf has demanded something extra from her Olympic hopefuls this time around, committing them to a dedicated three-month lead-in before the London Games and sacrificing some of the WNBA season.
Most have signed up, including Lauren Jackson and Liz Cambage, although negotiations are still underway with players like Penny Taylor and Erin Phillips, who were both with the team at the Beijing Olympics.
Part of the change was brought about because of Australia's performance at the world championships in 2010.
"We had a lot of our athletes come straight from playing in the WNBA and we had two players come in just two days before, so our preparation was certainly far from perfect," Graf said.
"That's why our plan this year is to get the entirely of our group together."
The Opals team will be finalised during a selection camp in March, ahead of a busy schedule which includes international games in Asia and Europe, a farewell series against Brazil in Melbourne and another batch of games in Europe.
Graf doesn't expect to deliver any selection surprises.
"We've still got a wonderful core group with great depth that have played two and three Olympic Games," Graf said.
"But we are going to have a good blend of veteran Olympic experience and some young rising talent.
"The selection usually only gets tight in the 10, 11th, 12th spots."
The Olympic basketball competition kicks off on day one on July 28.
