Team GB test as Canadians make date at Meadowbank

The Great Britain women’s Olympic squad are to play Canada twice at Meadowbank on June 9 and 10 as they build up for London 2012 the following month.

The Canadians, who will be preparing for the women’s qualifying tournament in Turkey, should be ideal opponents for coach Tom Maher and the British women who were awarded host nation status and direct entry into the Olympic tournament.

Maher has still to announce his squad of 18 to prepare for the Games – only 12 will eventually be chosen – but hopes are high that at least one Scot, possibly two will be included.

Portobello’s Rose Anderson, who made the team for last summer’s Eurobasket Finals in Poland and has been recovering from an ankle sprain, had the bad luck to turn her other ankle playing for UWIC Archers at Durham University last weekend but is expected to recover in time.

Falkirk’s Mairi Buchan has been in good form recently for Old Dominion University and is developing into a reliable three-point shooter which might make her a contender for the three spot in the GB side.

Fellow Scot Becca Allison has not been enjoying the same court time at ODU, but, having played for Jennings in the GB Under-20 side, could challenge for a guard spot in the senior squad.