By Chris Wilson

The Canberra Capitals will play their fourth successive grand final on Saturday but Eleanor Sharp and Kellie Abrams remember when the club was rock-bottom.

The pair have been with the Caps since 1997 after they both. graduated from the Australian Institute of Sport. In the next three seasons the Caps won a combined 12 games, five less than the club has won this season alone.

Sharp said her early days with the Capitals made the club's glory days much more special.

"I really hated losing but I enjoyed that time and now I really appreciate what we have here," Sharp said. "We weren't a bad team, we really fought hard and we gave a lot of teams a real fright.

"It probably hurts more now if we lose because we know we're capable of winning. If we lose now, it's not because we don't have the players, it's probably because we haven't applied ourselves."

Abrams missed the Capitals' inaugural championship in 1999/2000. She had taken the year off after the Capitals finished last in 1998/99.

"When I came back, I couldn't have asked for a better boost to my career. We made the grand final and lost it, but then came back and won the next season. Now I'm in my third grand final and hopefully going for my second WNBL title."

On Saturday the Capitals will be shooting for their third title in four seasons. The club likes to call it the start of a dynasty.

Capitals players like Lauren Jackson and Kristen Veal have known nothing but success in the WNBL. Both have been involved in the past five grand finals, both winning their first with the AIS in 1998/99.

While the recruitment of Jackson has been the biggest factor in turning the Capitals into champions, Abrams said the team's chemistry also had a lot to do with the club's success. "Everyone likes to think that winning helps to keep your enthusiasm and passion but that also comes from the people you play with," Abrams said.

"I think it's the best year that I've had in the WNBL and hopefully I can improve on that in the coming seasons. I feel like I'm hitting my peak now and I can only get better from here."

It has been a difficult season for Sharp, struck down by glandular fever before Christmas. She missed two months and made her comeback in the semi-final win against Townsville. Sharp, expected to extend her contract with the Capitals after Saturday's grand final, said she was keen to be in the starting team for the decider.