By Chris Wilson

The Townsville Fire will be fuelled by enthusiasm in today's Women's National Basketball League semi final at Tuggeranong, but they'll have a tough time matching Canberra Capitals point guard Kristen Veal.

Veal is primed for the finals, after missing last season's play-offs and championship victory because of injury.

The defending champion Capitals are red-hot favourites to win back-to-back titles and complacency could be the only thing that stops them. But Veal said she and her team-mates were motivated for success.

"You win a couple of championships and people think there might be some complacency. But we know that every team, every season and every championship is unique. You never know how things work, this could be our last chance to win a championship together," Veal said.

A sell-out crowd of 1400 will put pressure on finals debutants, the Townsville Fire, who have surprised everyone with their sensational season.

Having finished dead-last in their inaugural season last year, the Fire are just one win away from a grand final.

The winner of today's game will advance straight through to the WNBL grand final, while the loser will get a second chance next weekend.

While Townsville's lack of finals experience has been highlighted as a weakness, Veal pointed out the Capitals won their inaugural championship in 1999-2000 after finishing with the wooden spoon the season before.

"We understand it can be done. Even if they don't have finals experience, they're going to be running on adrenalin and that can be a dangerous thing," Veal said. Mind you, Canberra's first championship was made possible by the addition of Veal and Lauren Jackson. Both have been involved in the last four grand finals, winning three.

Townsville has made no secret of the fact that they intend to double and even triple-team Jackson and coach Dave Herbert is confident the plan will work.

"Our game plan is certainly effective against them, I think it's just a matter of sustaining it for four quarters," Herbert said. "We could turn around right now and say we've done a fantastic job this year, we're happy. But the nature of the group is they're so competitive that there's still an unsettled feeling that there's unfinished business."

Capitals coach Tom Maher is wary of the Fire, particularly their offensive punch from all over the court.

"They can flat out beat anybody because they've got so much firepower and if they get a lot of open shots that's how they'll beat us," Maher said.

The Capitals have been boosted defensively by the return of Eleanor Sharp, who will start today in just her second match back from glandular fever.

Should they win today, the Capitals could use the week off to nurse niggling injuries, their biggest concern would be losing and giving Townsville a home court grand final. The Fire have not been beaten at home this season.

"I know Canberra would be very wary of us winning this game and having to come to Townsville to play us in the grand final," Herbert said.