A SPOT on the Australian Opals squad ahead of the 2013 FIBA Oceanic Championships could be Logan Thunder Captain Kristen Veal’s final push for international representation, but the prolific play maker says she’s just happy to still be enjoying the game.

After being overlooked for the Opals’ squad over 18 months ago ahead of the 2012 London Olympics, Veal admitted she thought her international career was over until her recent recall under new national team head coach Brendan Joyce.

“It’s been a long time and I thought that door had shut,” she said.

“When I got the call up earlier this year I was in two minds about doing it, but Brendan was adamant he wanted everyone to be a part of it and funnily enough the culture and style has made it really enjoyable.”

Veal, who turns 32 on Wednesday and made her international debut almost two decades ago, said she had a newfound motivation since her last Opals campaign.

“I’ve never lost the love for the game but I was a little bit disillusioned by some of the ups and downs, which most players go through,” she said.

“At the elite level athletes are perfectionists and I think I struggled with not being able to do the amount of preparation that you need to do to perform well at that level and my ego took a bit of a hit,” she said.

The seasoned veteran said she has realised her role within the Opals squad as she nears the end of her playing career.

“I’m probably at that point in my career where it is about giving back, so I see it as much bigger than me just getting a spot on the team,” the floor general said.

“Whether it comes to an end at the end of next week or in a year’s time, if I’m doing those two things, then I’ll be happy.

“For me it’s firstly about enjoying the experience and secondly being a part of that culture and helping it go on to the next generation,” she said.

Thunder newcomer Hanna Zavecz, who narrowly missed out on Olympic selection in London, will also be eagerly vying for a spot on the squad as she looks to establish herself in the national team.

“For me personally this is an important step towards representing Australia,” the 27-year-old said.

“I definitely want to be selected and this is the camp where everyone has to step up and prove that they should be at this level. There are good players competing for similar spots so it’s really competitive,” she said.

The 16-player squad will knuckle down for the five-day camp in Dandenong and Ballarat, from where Joyce will select the final squad to take on New Zealand at the FIBA Qualifier in August.