Then Townsville Fire are closing in on their final squad member for 2012/13, the Townsville Bulletin has reported.

Fire board member Claudia Brassard told the Bulletin the club had been in extended talks with the player and were confident of an announcement soon.

"We're in negotiations with a certain player and ... I think we're close to signing her hopefully," Brassard said. While the Fire had been keen to secure the signature of a big centre to add some height to their roster, they have decided to look at dynamic forwards.

"We've struggled to find that big centre so ... what we're looking for is an athletic forward that can rebound, run ... but then give us that inside presence," Brassard said.

She said the decision of many of the Australian Opals players to remain in the WNBL after the Olympics would make for a tough league next season.

"The year after the Olympics, players tend to go overseas," Brassard said. "But certainly next year is the exception to that rule because pretty much every Opal will be playing in Australia except for Liz Cambage - so the league is going to be really tough next year." The Fire are also looking at adding fringe players to their squad to help with training and depth when development players Alicia and Keely Froling visit the United States in October for an international tour.

The players are due to arrive in Townsville in early September for pre-season and will also be busy off the court.

Fire general manager Mandy Thompson (formerly Johnstone) said they had tripled their community engagement programs including school visits in western Queensland out to Mount Isa. The club has also announced a freeze on ticket prices for next season and aims to double membership from 200 to 400.

Townsville Fire squad: Rachael Flanagan, Micaela Cocks, Nicole Romeo, Mia Newley, Jess Foley, Olivia Thompson, Shanavia Dowdell, Casey Lockwood, Kayla Standish.