Each game is a primer for the big moment.

Every practice is a rehearsal for that distant dream.

And every day the opportunity nears to make it all come true.

Members of Canada's women's basketball program understand the odds and chances of earning a ticket to the 2012 London Olympics.

A series of exhibition tilts map out a tough route to next month's Olympic Qualifying tournament in Turkey - a route that like tales of old, could produce veritable spice and riches.

A top-five finish for Canada would guarantee a seat.

Coquitlam's Megan Pinske is glad to be on this ride, and is eager to help her teammates achieve that berth to the Summer Games.

"I was pretty excited," said Pinske on being named to the women's national squad this spring. "The tryout was pretty gruelling, we had four days of twoa-days and (head coach) Alison (McNeill) said it was our most competitive tryout. It's just really exciting to be a part of this."

The club wrapped up a three-game exhibition slate against No. seventh-rated Chinese national team, with No. 11-ranked Canada prevailing twice.

Pinske, who has embraced her role as a heartand-grit guard off the bench, contributed in her five minutes of floor time in the final game in Abbotsford against China - a 45-37 victory.

Nearly all her playing time came in the second quarter, when the home team clung to a slim lead against the more physical, taller Chinese lineup.

The fourth-best squad at the Beijing Olympics, the Chinese roster includes six-foot-nine Wei Wei and six-foot-six Liting Zhang - tough marks for any defence.

That Canada was able to win a best-of-three set provides room for strong hope heading to Turkey June 25.

Pinske said it's a major test just preparing against her own teammates, who include national team legends Kim Smith and captain Teresa Gabriele. With the likes of Gabriele, Shona Thorburn and Alisha Tatham topping the point guard depth chart, Pinske understands that minutes will be at a premium.

Maxing out those minutes with her intensity and court smarts will be critical.

"It's hard because I'm up against two amazing point guards, but to me, I look at it as such a way to learn and to experience and grow," she said. "Having someone like Teresa and Shona to learn from, they are both so smart.

"I go into training camp every summer and I feel like I walk away having learned so much. Every summer it's this building process."

This is Pinske's sixth year in the national program, beginning in 2005 with the youth squad. She has 44 international games to her credit, including last year's Universiade in China, where she averaged 6.8 points and over 27 minutes per game with the women's national development side.

The 23-year-old, who played the past season with the TV Sarrlouis Royals of the German pro circuit, is eager to contribute. In the fourth quarter as Canada wedged its lead with some clutch shooting in Abbotsford, Pinske brought the energy and positive vibes from the bench, jumping to her feet at every big bucket.

Her years as a starter with Western Washington, after being a first team provincial all-star with the Port Moody Blues in 2006, prepared her for this new role.

"I think everybody has a role to play on this team. If it's on the bench it is still an important role. Everyone gets into it, and if you can bring energy that way I'm for sure going to do it," she said.

To get Canada back to the Olympics - where they last competed in 2000 - this group of 16 women will need to lay all its talent and determination out on the hard court. Pinske said although the challenge is huge, the team has made big strides since being named.

The next leg of the journey takes them to Europe, where they begin a three-week long training regimen that includes exhibition matches against Great Britain, Croatia, Czech Republic and France. They'll kick off the FIBA World Olympic Qualifier on June 25 against Mali, and play France the next day.

"When we're most successful we are playing as a team, really buying into the team concept offence and defensively.

"When we try to go individual it doesn't work. Allison always says if we play as a team, that's when we're strongest."

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