Joyce also confirmed in-form Canberra Capitals forward Abby Bishop is definitely still in his plans after she withdrew from this year's world championships to care for baby niece Zala.

Jackson took a major step towards putting her recent injury woes behind her with 13 points in 15 minutes for the Capitals in her first game in 11 months against Adelaide last Friday.

While she did not back up the following night against West Coast in Perth, Joyce hopes it is the first big step towards ensuring Australia's greatest female basketball player boards the plane to Rio de Janeiro.

With many key players in the back end of their careers, a young and new-look Opals won bronze at this year's world championships and Joyce is keen to have Jackson's and Penny Taylor's experience at the Olympics.

Taylor bounced back from a horror 18 months with knee problems to help Phoenix to this year's WNBA title, and has starred for Dandenong in the WNBL.

"We're obviously just all hopeful she gets through unscathed, and it continues that way for the rest of her career," Joyce said.

"She's had quite a few operations the last 10 months, that's what everyone's concerned about.

"Penny and Lauren are two of the greatest players we've ever had, and that's the reason why they can continue to play to 33 or 34.

"If you look at the Opals now it's fairly young, we only had three players from London [2012 Olympics] and we're going to need some experience.

"I can't answer whether they're going to make it because you just don't know with the injuries."

Joyce expressed concern the general public would expect Jackson to automatically return to the dominance that has made her a household name.

"That's what worries me a little bit about coming back unless she's 100 per cent, because of those expectations and her feeling she has to do it as well," Joyce said.

"I wouldn't want her to feel that way if she's not 100 per cent to play, because at the international level you have to be."

Joyce is set to play Jackson closer to the basket more often at centre, alternating her between the power forward role she has played at mostly at international level.

"With the skill package and experience Lauren's got I really believe she's something to deal with in the post, not just on the perimeter," he said.

"She's got a very good low post game, I'm looking at playing her more often at five [centre] as well as four [forward] and we've spoken about that."

Jackson's return to the Capitals may also help Bishop's selection hopes. With Jackson to play centre, she will move back to her preferred forward spot.

Joyce said the door remained open for Bishop, who has been in strong form for the Capitals.

"Living in Canberra, I've seen a couple of her games and she's playing really good basketball," he said.

"We've got camps in May and July before Olympic qualifiers [against New Zealand] in August, Abby's got to come into camp live everybody else.

"She's playing really good basketball, so I expect her to have a really good chance.

"We'd probably send out a letter [to attend camp] to 24 players and I'd expect Abby to be one of those. It will be her decision."