While the Opals centre remains likely, she has stepped up her training this week and is confident of returning from hip surgery in coming weeks.

Jackson's return is the subject of much interest, given she is yet to play after signing a deal in 2011 worth about $1 million to play three seasons over a five-year period with the WNBL club. She missed the 2012-13 season through injury, and withdrew from last season after the Capitals failed to meet a contract deadline imposed by her management.

"It'll be a week-by-week proposition, but she's well on track to be with us well before Christmas," Graf said.

"Lauren's rehab is going super, she's on court a bit with us this week and is doing some shooting. She's in a great head space about her injury, she's on court a bit with us this week and doing some shooting."

Veteran guard Michelle Cosier (hamstring) is also on track to return next Saturday at home against Dandenong after bypassing last season to have her second child.

"If she can get through a full week of training, she'll be back on deck for Dandenong," Graf said. "You take those two [Jackson and Cosier] out of our mix on paper, it changes a lot."

After splitting their round-one matches against Melbourne and Sydney, Canberra faces a tough road test against defending two-time champion Bendigo on Saturday.

Graf rates the Spirit's line-up as better than the past two seasons, and the Capitals will focus on cleaning up the turnovers that plagued them last week.

"It's our turnover rate which is really hurting us at the moment, we're giving the opposition 10 extra possessions from errors we can fix," she said.

"It's a big challenge this week, a team that has even more talent than they've had the last couple of years. Early in the year you have to grind out un-pretty, hard-fought wins."

SATURDAY

WNBL round two: Bendigo Spirit v Canberra Capitals at Bendigo Stadium, 3pm

TV: Live on ABC1