The Canadian Women's National Softball Team is set to return to the Yukon next week.

The Pepsi Softball Centre will be the site of the team's final selection camp, in Whitehorse, running from June 30 to July 5.

In addition to training sessions open to the public, the team will play six intersquad games: June 30 at 7 p.m., July 1 at 7 p.m., July 2 at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m., July 3 at 7 p.m. and July 4 at 7 p.m.

Cost: free.

Team Canada played Team USA in a six-game exhibition series split between Whitehorse and Surrey, B.C., last year.

Gilles LeBlanc, manager of marketing and communications with Softball Canada, said the team is looking forward to another positive experience in the Yukon capital.

Not to mention that Softball Canada will be hosting the International Softball Federation XIII Women's World Championships in Whitehorse in 2012.

"It's obviously a really good idea to bring our players there as often as we can to help prepare them for the climate and what it's going to be like in July, since the world championships will be in July next year,” LeBlanc said.

Roughly 60 players are heading into preliminary selection camps in Brampton, Ont., and Surrey, B.C., this weekend.

That number will be cut in half, down to 25-28, for the final selection camp.

From that number, 15 will be selected to play in the Canadian Open Fast Pitch International Championship in Surrey from July 9-7 and the World Cup of Softball in Oklahoma City, Okla., from July 21-25.

This paring down will make for a competitive – and entertaining – final selection camp in Whitehorse, LeBlanc said.

"We're confident that they've been under this kind of pressure before. As well, they've been playing really good ball with their club teams and also with universities and colleges, and I think they're used to that pressure. Our coaching staff has done a fantastic job preparing them for what's to come and showing them what they need to do and having them perform at the top level every day,” LeBlanc said.

Missing from the final camp will be key players Jennifer Salling and Danielle Lawrie, who are playing in the professional league in the United States, and retired catcher Erin Cumpstone.

"Those players were key players on our team last year that won't be there this summer, but we do have a bunch of younger players who are ready to step in,”

LeBlanc said, adding that this year's field is wide open.

"The past few years we were blessed with having access to all the players, and they did a fantastic job for us over the last few years.”

The selection camp comes shortly after Softball Yukon made $20,000 to $30,000 in upgrades to the Pepsi Softball Centre which included replacing the dugouts at Field 1 and 2.

LeBlanc said Team Canada is excited to return.

"Last year we saw how many people came out just to see exhibition games and the attendance is always fantastic there and a great atmosphere at the ball park,” LeBlanc said.

"Our athletes were overwhelmed with the beauty of the area there and how many people showed up at the games and how positive all the fans around there are.”