By Andrew Benson

She may be the new assistant coach but Eleanor Sharp certainly isn't a new face at the Canberra Capitals.

After battling through last season with glandular fever Sharp made a valiant attempt this pre-season to get back on court as the Capitals look for a third consecutive championship.

Unfortunately the starting forward was unable to fully recover from the illness and has decided it would be best for her to spend the season off the court.

Such is Sharp's value to the Capitals she will spend the year instead as an assistant coach to Carrie Graf.

The decision wasn't easy for Sharp but she believes she is doing what's best for the team. "It certainly was a hard decision," Sharp said.

"When Carrie Graf came back I sat down with her and discussed it.

"I had been thinking about it for a couple of weeks - how I was going to cope with the training, the playing and the travelling.

"I had given pre-season quite a decent go and I just decided that the best thing for me, both for now and the long term was to sit this out rather than struggling through this season with no guarantee I would be feeling fit throughout it and maybe blow my chances for next season."

Returning Capitals coach Graf is fully supportive of Sharp's decision and is happy to have her on the coaching team for this season.

A saving grace for the Capitals was the signing of Australian Opal Jo Hill for this season. Although the Capitals would prefer to have Sharp fit and well Hill will be able to cover the loss as well as anyone in the Women's National Basketball League.

"She just hasn't totally shaken the illness," Graf said. "Nothing shows up in her blood but she goes to practice and it knocks her out.

"We talked about it and decided for her to have the best experience she can with the Caps she would take this season off and stay on as an assistant coach and then have a terrific next season on the court.

"Getting Jo Hill in made that decision a little easier, it will be easier to cover her because we also have people like Sarah Berry and Kelly Hannett stepping up from last year."

With two years left on her contract with the Capitals, Sharp will be doing everything she can this year to get herself back to 100 per cent fitness even though the lure of being a member of another championship team was almost too strong to refuse.

"I'll take this season and get myself totally well for next season which is the scenario I prefer at this time," Sharp said. "It was very difficult letting go for this season with the high possibility we will win another championship.

"I want to do it with this group of girls but at the end of the day it wouldn't have been fair."