“It’s a rarity. It’s great the have the crowd rally behind you,” the veteran Australian basketballer said after a training session with the Opals in Ballarat on Thursday. 

Batkovic will line up for the Opals at the Minerdome on Friday night for the third and last game in a series against Japan.

The national team is a hot favourite to complete a clean sweep after outclassing Japan at Dandenong on Monday and Frankston on Wednesday night.

Batkovic said training camps were always a lot of fun.

She said being from Newcastle, she was particularly enjoying the regional aspect of this week’s camp.

Coach Brendan Joyce, who led Ballarat Miners two titles  from 1994 to 1996, said the series had been a “magnificent” promotion for the basketball and the Opals.

“We played to full houses. There’s been great community support.”

Joyce said Japan had provided an ideal preparation for the upcoming Olympic qualifying series against New Zealand in August.

He said Japan was a similar size to the Kiwis, and fast.

“They're not much different.”

Joyce said the form of Rachel Jarry in Wednesday’s win had been particularly pleasing.

The former Ballarat Lady Miner, who is returning after a knee injury, was rested on Monday night and did enough in game two to suggest she can be considered take the court at the Minerdome.

For Batkovic, the series has also been important as she continues on the comeback trail from long-term back trouble.

She stepped away from the game after the 2012 London Olympic Games.

“I needed time off. I couldn’t commit 100 per cent. It was better to step away and get right.

“I’m right now. My back’s really good now.”

Batkovic, who relaunched her international career in May, said she was enjoying being back in the Opals squad.

She said there was a really good mix of “young, vets and in-betweens”.

The Opals and Japan each arrived in Ballarat on Thursday and will have short training sessions at the Minerdome on Friday.

Japan head coach Tomohide Yutsumi said his players had enjoyed some down time at the Ballarat Wildlife Park shortly after arriving.

"It's good for us a day like this. We've been working hard. The Australian team is really strong and we've been saying that whether we win or lose, we want to try and get better," he said.

The game starts at 7pm.