Squash officials are confident of booking a Brisbane Olympics berth even before the sport gets its own Hollywood moment in an overdue Games debut.
The 2028 Los Angeles Games will mark squash's Olympic arrival and do so in dramatic style, with a glass court in front of the 'Back to the Future' clock tower at Universal Studios.
Men's and women's fields of just 16 will compete and Greg Lobban, having switched allegiances from Scotland to Australia, hopes to be among them in green and gold.
Currently ranked 28th in the world, Lobban is married to retired Australian Commonwealth Games champion and former world No.13 Donna Urquhart.
His allegiance switch is timely given no other Australian male or female currently sits inside the world's top 70.
About 15,000 play competitive squash while about 200,000 play casually in the country, compared to the estimated one million who flocked to courts about 30 years ago when Australians dominated globally.
Squash was pipped by breaking for inclusion in the Paris Games and is among a host of sports vying to remain in the program when the show comes to Brisbane in 2032.
The list of sports is expected to be finalised early next year, before squash gets a chance in LA to show why it belongs.
"We're as confident as any sport can be," Squash Australia boss Robert Donaghue told AAP.
He said the emergence of small-court rivals padel and pickleball had not threatened squash and backed the Games to deliver the sport's own 'Back to the Future' moment in Australia.
"Ironically it's been a huge positive, making racquet-ball sports cool again," Donaghue said.
"And the uniqueness of the glass court and sport itself lends it to the Olympics.
"LA came out of the blue, but they saw the real potential for it.
"The 'Back to the Future' clock tower at universal studios ... it's kind of like the beach volleyball, Eiffel Tower moment in Paris is going to be squash's.
The Australian Open - one of seven gold status events on the PSA Squash Tour - will return to Brisbane for a third-straight year, set to be played at South Bank's Piazza next February.
More than 2000 fans can squeeze into the amphitheatre, making it the biggest squash stadium in the world on a venue list that include's New York's Grand Central Station and the Great Pyramids of Giza in Cairo.
"This event here demonstrates to Brisbane (2032 decision makers) the uniqueness of the sport," Donaghue said.
"It changes the perception of the sport and is in line with the IOC's strategy to make it more sustainable, compact, not require a huge footprint."
Lobban has been a consistent top-25 presence and won 16 career PSA Tour titles.
He won't be eligible to represent Australia at next year's Pacific Games, where the winner will earn direct Games entry.
There will also be a last-chance qualifying tournament before the Games but it's likely Lobban's ranking - provided it doesn't dip - should see him qualify directly.
"Every country wants representation at that first Games and I'd love to make that happen for Australia," the 33-year-old told AAP.
"These are probably the most important two years of my career.
"I want to leave it with no question marks at the end of the qualification period.
"Today's my third time wearing the green and gold, but it's something I definitely can get used to."
