THE Bendigo Bank Spirit playing roster has been bolstered by the signing of Canadian international Chelsea Aubry.The 188cm power forward arrives in Australia today and will suit up in tonight’s Women’s National Basketball League season-opener against Dandenong in Melbourne.She will be joined by Opals star Kristi Harrower who arrived back from the United States yesterday.Harrower is yet to sign a full contract with the Spirit, but has put pen to paper on a short-term deal which allows her to play tonight.Aubry joins the Spirit on the back of helping Canada qualify for next year’s world championships.The 25-year-old played key minutes for Canada as it grabbed a bronze medal at the Pan America Championships in Brazil last week.“It might take a few weeks for Chelsea to get into full stride, but there’s no doubt that she’ll help us immediately,’’ Spirit coach Bernie Harrower said.“She’s a good size, has the ability to play close to the basket and on the perimeter and is a solid defender.’’Aubry has been part of Canada’s senior women’s team for seven years, playing more than 70 internationals.She represented Canada at the world championships in 2006 where she averaged 25 minutes per game and averaged five points and three rebounds per game.She also played four years of NCAA division one basketball with the University of Nebraska where she was a team-mate of Spirit guard Louise McLean.Aubry spent the 2008-09 season in Slovakia where she averaged 14 points and eight rebounds per game for BSS Kosice.Aubry gives the Spirit some much-needed grunt in the frontcourt with starting centre Eleanor Haring still a month away from playing because of a knee injury.Aubry will shoulder a heavy workolad tonight with Jasmine Finnigan.Like last year, the Spirit’s fortunes will hinge on the performance of point guard Kristi Harrower and to a lesser-extent shooting guard Kelly Wilson.Harrower was the most influential player in the WNBL last season as she led the Spirit to its first play-off campaign.Her ability to bring her teammates into the game is just as important as her scoring prowess.Wilson benefited from playing alongside Harrower last summer, taking her game to a new level in the recent SEABL season with the Bendigo Lady Braves. The one-two punch of Harrower and Wilson will test all WNBL rivals.The versatile Lauren King, McLean and back-up point guard Jane Chalmers should be better for last year’s experience and Bernie Harrower will be expecting big things from that trio this season.Tonight will mark the WNBL debut of two young players from regional Victoria, who are part of the Spirit’s development squad. Madeleine Garrick (Shepparton) and Chloe Little (Kyneton) will both suit up for the Spirit for their first taste of the WNBL.The Spirit’s other development squad members are Zara Pearson (Echuca), Madeleine Taylor (Geelong) and Cortney Williamson (Ararat). This week Taylor has been released to the Australian Institute of Sport until early December, when she’ll return to the Spirit.Tonight’s game starts at 7.30pm.