It may still be summer, but the focus is shifting to the curling rink for the Penny Barker team out of Moose Jaw.

Preparations are underway for the 2018-19 curling season and the Barker rink has its sights set on returning to the top in the province this season.

"The season is long, so it's definitely nice to have a little break and have the other side of your life, but I’m excited about the season, our first spiel is mid-September, so it isn't that far away," said Barker.

Team Barker is one of 13 teams that were invited into Curl Sask's Tier 1 High Performance program this season, which will give them a big boost for the upcoming season.

The 2017 provincial champ said this is their second straight year in the program and they will be taking full advantage of its benefits this season.

"We've already started using some of their services, so we're pretty excited about it," said Barker. "The Tier 1 program provides you a little more access to sport science services and high-performance technical training, so it just looks to get you that much more prepared to compete at the highest level.

"We felt like we had a really strong season last year and there was just the odd game situation where we really needed to put a bit more pressure on, so we're just looking at picking up our game that little bit extra, any little bit is going to help and just picking up the mental side of it, the nutrition, the strength training, all of that is going to give us a big boost going into the season."

With a busy schedule last season, Barker said that they didn't make as much use as they could have of the services offered by Curl Sask's Director of High Performance Pat Simmons and the program.

"Last year we used the strategy sessions and we got a lot out of that, and this year, we plan on using that earlier in the season and we're looking to suck as much out of the program as possible," said Barker.

There was a change to the team during the offseason with Christie Gamble joining the squad as the new second, replacing departing Lorraine Schneider. Third Deanna Doig and lead Danielle Sicinski are returning.

With a new team member, Barker said that makes their training with the High Performance program even more important as they look to gel together.

"With a new teammate, it's just about getting everybody back on board, we have three returning players so the base is already set and Christie is going to be a great fit," said Barker.

The Skylar Ackerman team out of Moose Jaw is also part of the High Performance program this year in the 2019 Canada Winter Games Training Program.