THE Dandenong Jayco Rangers will be kicking themselves today after fluffing their chance to hold on to a Women's National Baksketball League top four spot.

The Rangers were comprehensively beaten 75-57 by Canberra in Dandenong on Sunday afternoon.

For a few hours on Saturday and Sunday, the Rangers moved into the top four after the Adelaide Lightning lost two games on the road, to Townsville and Syndey.

The Rangers needed to win to consolidate and pressure Adelaide and Canberra in the race for the last two remaining play-off places.

Sydney and national coach Karen Dalton said after Saturday's win that a renewed commitment to defence was the key.

The loss extended Adelaide's own dismal losing streak to five games - a wake-up call for the perennial finals contenders.

There was an air of quiet confidence around the courts at the Dandenong Basketball Stadium last week.

Six of the Rangers' young stars have been named in the Sapphires - the young women's national squad - and were away at a three-day training camp at Monash University with coach Mark Wright - former Dandenong coach and now at the helm of the Victoria Giants.

Carly Wilson, Samantha Richards, Dee Ranford, Demelza Waixel, Michelle Musselwhite, and Alison Downie were chosen for the camp, in preparation for the final selection for the World Championships in Dubrovnik, Croatia in July/August.