Superstar Lauren Jackson has declared the current crop of home-grown, female basketballing talent the best she has seen.

The Australian women's squad have begun their first training camp at the AIS in Canberra ahead of their world title defence in the Czech Republic in September.

And Jackson likes what she sees from the emerging players.

"In terms of talent, I don't think I've seen anything like this coming through in my career," said Jackson, who debuted for the Opals as a 16-year-old 13 years ago.

"Obviously a lot of girls have huge careers ahead of them, Lizzie (Cambage) in particular.

"It's just so exciting ... to be able to watch how their careers progress."

With Jackson re-signed to the Seattle Storm, the camp may be one of the few chances younger, would-be Opals have to train with the two-time WNBA MVP ahead of the world titles.

But the ever-humble 28-year-old said it was a privilege to be practicing with them. Teen sensation Cambage, who stands even taller than her towering hero, said she'd been playing close attention to Jackson's game since camp started on Saturday.

"I just sort of watch all her moves, and memorise them, so I can steal them hopefully," she joked.

"She's such an awesome player ... (her style) is something I've always wanted to play like."

Opals coach Carrie Graf said the camp was a great opportunity for up and comers to learn from the core of veteran international stars with 2008 Olympic silver medallists Jackson, Kristi Harrower, Tully Bevilaqua and Suzy Batkovic-Brown all on hand.

"Unfortunately we've got a couple of injuries in that, but to have those veterans here with some of the emerging talent is a great sign," she said.

Injury concerns have limited Jackson, Batkovic-Brown and Cambage to shooting drills only.

Graf said the realities of overseas club commitments made world title preparations difficult.

"We've got a squad of 27, we planned to have 17 athletes here, it's down to 14 and three injuries, so that changes what we do," Graf said.

"Rarely do we get the same group together, and that's one of the challenges we have to deal with."

One of the coach's main aims for the camp was to get point guard Harrower and forward Jackson working together again after an 18-month hiatus.

"That's a big focus for us, to get those two as Opals reconnecting," she said. "They haven't been together as Opals since the Olympics."

Graf's other goal was less specific.

"To get the young players a sense of what it means to be an Opal, what it means to aim big in world championships and Olympic Games," she said.

Bonny Symons-Brown
AAP