MELBOURNE (2016 Rio Olympics) - Australia have had their Olympic podium chances boosted by confirmation that both Marianna Tolo and Elizabeth Cambage are in contention for a place on the roster for the Rio Games.

The frontcourt stars were both named in a 27-strong candidate list on Thursday, from which 20 players will be selected to participate in four preparation camps ahead of the Games across March to July.

Tolo helped Australia cement a third-place finish at the 2014 FIBA Women's World Championship before suffering a serious knee injury, with Cambage herself having been denied the chance to play at the event in Turkey because of injury.

Cambage remains one of the biggest stars in the women's game and comes in from the cold after not featuring of late for her country and still very much associated with the Olympics after she famously threw down a dunk at London 2012.

The list includes the legendary Lauren Jackson and head coach Brendan Joyce has also been able to welcome back veteran pair Penny Taylor and Erin Phillips, while there are some new faces in the shape of Lauren Mansfield and naturalised option Kelsey Griffin.

"Mansfield has had an excellent WNBL season and that prompted us to provide an opportunity for her," Joyce said. "It is also Kelsey Griffin's first inclusion - as a naturalised player, she will get to experience her first taste of the Opals.

I'm also really pleased to have Penny Taylor and Erin Phillips back for the first two camps. Together, they bring a wealth of international experience and leadership to the squad and it will be great to see Erin on the court after her knee injury. - Joyce

The first of the four camps will take place in Canberra from 29 March-3 April and the three further camps will be held in April in Gosford, June in Canberra and July on the Gold Coast.

Joyce is looking forward to working with the players not only on the court, but on other wider issues too.

We will utilise these camps to maintain and continue to develop the team chemistry we had at the 2014 FIBA Women's World Championship and transfer that into 2016. - Joyce

"We have included bigger squads in the past, but this year we wanted to start with a tighter squad to develop cohesion.

"We will run through our structures and strategies, but also have a couple of seminars to build on our mission, goals, culture and event resilience.

"There will be sports psychologists  to discuss resilience training and the challenges and distractions that can occur at big events," concluded Joyce.

Australia 27-player squad for preparations camps ahead of Rio 2016 Olympic Games: Rebecca Allen, Suzy Batkovic, Sara Blicavs, Abby Bishop, Natalie Burton, Elizabeth Cambage, Stephanie Cumming, Katie-Rae Ebzery, Cayla George, Madeleine Garrick, Kelsey Griffin, Laura Hodges, Lauren Jackson, Rachel Jarry, Alice Kunek, Tessa Lavey, Tess Madgen, Lauren Mansfield, Carley Mijovic, Leilani Mitchell, Erin Phillips, Elyse Penaluna, Belinda Snell, Stephanie Talbot, Penny Taylor, Marianna Tolo, Kelly Wilson.

FIBA