Brazil get back to work, Souza and Santos to join over the weekend

CAMPINAS (Rio 2016 Olympics Games) - A week after losing a three-game exhibition series against France, and following a short break, Rio Olympics hosts Brazil on Monday got back to work in Campinas, Sao Paulo.

They spent most of the day going through an intense conditioning and strength session.

Although Brazil won the 2016 South American Women's Championship two months ago, head coach Carlos Barbosa has never hidden his concern of wanting to improve the team for Rio, where they have been drawn in Group A alongside Australia, Japan, France, Belarus, and Turkey.

The three defeats in as many games against Les Bleues gave Barbosa a glimpse of how much work they have to do if they are to clinch an Olympic medal.

"We are going to make the necessary adjustments in order to build a competitive team, but we are still awaiting the arrival of our two starting centers," he said in reference to Erika Souza and Clarissa Santos.

The good news for Barbosa and local fans is that both players - both members of the WNBA's Chicago Sky - are expected to join the team on Sunday 17 July ahead of two warm-up games against Japan (27 July) and Serbia (2 August).

De Souza, who is averaging 6.2 points and 5.8 rebounds with the Sky, can't wait to join her national team.

With Souza and Santos on-board, Barbosa said: "We have chances of achieving goods results in Rio."

FIBA