Three Wollongong basketballers will be shooting for gold when they line up with the Australian Rollers at the Beijing Paralympics.
Brendan Dowler and Tristan Knowles will be competing in their second Paralympics, while Brett Stibners has been a member of the Rollers since 2006.
The trio is among the top players in the National Wheelchair Basketball League - Dowler with West Sydney, and Stibners and Knowles with the Wollongong Roller Hawks.
Australia won a silver medal four years ago in Athens and will be one of four or five nations in gold medal contention in Beijing.
"We've been working hard for four years and now it's time to reap the rewards," Dowler said.
"Getting a silver in Athens was good and hopefully we can go one better this time. We've certainly got the talent, and there's a good mix of experience and youth."
Dowler, 40, would be preparing for his third Paralympics if he hadn't been a late omission from the squad eight years ago in Sydney.
"It was disappointing to miss out on Sydney, but I'm just happy and grateful to be going to my second one," he said.
"They don't come around too often and it's important to make the most of the opportunity. It sneaks up on you. It's hard to believe Athens was four years ago and now the next one is on the doorstep. The stage doesn't get any bigger than this - nothing can replicate it. Being my second one, I probably feel there's a bit of extra responsibility on me to provide that guidance for the younger guys."
Stibners was a promising junior hockey player, gaining national indoor selection before a head-on collision with a cement truck changed his life.
He lost his left leg and eventually tried wheelchair hoops at the invitation of Roller Hawks foundation member Eino Okkenen.
The 29-year-old was in the national squad within two years and has been a team regular since cracking a spot in 2006.
"I've been in there for a couple of years now, and I'm really looking forward to Beijing," Stibners said.
"We changed coaches last year and now everybody gets some role in every game, whether it be five minutes or 25.
"Canada's the team to beat, but they've lost their last two tournaments to the Americans. Hopefully we'll come home with a medal of the gold variety."
Stibners put his rapid rise in the game down to a three-year stint in Spain.
"Going overseas helped me a lot," he said. "It was the best decision I ever made in terms of developing my game."
Knowles has been with the Roller Hawks since their inception and is one of the NWBL's most prolific scorers.
He has become an integral part of the Australian side and firmly believes the Rollers can repeat their memorable gold medal triumph at the 1996 Paralympics in Atlanta.
"All the guys know if we play to our potential that we can definitely bring home the gold medal," the 25-year-old said.
"I'm feeling a lot calmer compared to four years ago when I felt more anxiety.
"My role is a lot different with this team, whereas I probably just scraped into the Athens team and I felt a lot more pressure to perform and justify my spot.
"Playing in Italy for three years and just having another four years' experience under my belt has made me more confident in my game. I can't wait to get over there."
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