Adam Lancia has won it all in wheelchair basketball  – two Paralympic Games gold medals, a world championship, two world junior championships, a whole series of national championships and the majority of most valuable player awards up for grabs.

That doesn't stop the 36-year-old veteran of Canada's men's national team from getting as excited as a rookie by the prospects awaiting Team Canada at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.

"Brazil has a feverish sport culture. They will bring the same passion they have for soccer to wheelchair basketball,” Lancia says. "I am really looking forward to playing the home country in front of almost 20,000 screaming fans. I am sure it will sound more like 100,000.

"It’s not often that a wheelchair basketball player gets to play in front of such large crowd. It’s going to be a lot of fun – and a lot more fun if we win the game. It’s going to be electric.”

Become an expert on wheelchair basketball with our infographic

On their way to Paralympic gold at London 2012, Team Canada beat hosts Great Britain twice, once in the group stage and then in a pulsating semi-final. At Rio 2016, Lancia is looking forward to taking on the host nation in front of a fiercely hostile crowd.

"London 2012 was wild but Brazil will take it to a different level. We are going to have to use sign language and eye contact to communicate with each other."

Old rivalries renewed

It's not only the Brazilians that stand between Canada and a successful defense of their London 2012 title. To win their fourth title in five Games, Team Canada are going to have to overcome two fierce rivals who have been outperforming them in recent tournaments: the USA and Australia.

One of the most eagerly awaited matches of the entire tournament will take place on 10 September, when Canada take on Australia in the group stage, the reigning Paralympic champions against the double world champions. There is no love lost between the two most successful teams in recent Paralympic history. Canada beat Australia to the gold medal at London 2012 and Athens 2004, while Australia triumphed in the final at Beijing 2008. Matches between the two countries over the years have been intense, passionate and at times aggressive.

"With Australia our rivalry has at times been less than friendly," Lancia says. "It’s going to be a big game. We are going in as underdogs so we will be able to play freely and passionately.”

Matches between Canada and Australia tend to be high-paced, often bruising affairs (Photo: Getty Images/Shaun Botterill)

Lancia says that the Canucks are more friendly with the Americans, many of whom are team-mates in club sides. However, when the whistle blows in Rio, those friendships might be forgotten for the duration of the match. Canada will be looking to avenge their defeat to the USA in the final of the Toronto 2015 Para-Pan American Games. For their part, the USA are desperate to bag their first Paralympic gold medal since Seoul 1988.

Lancia has competed in Rio before, at the Para-Pan American Games in 2007, when Canada lost the final to the USA. In April this year, Team Canada visited the city to train in local conditions and get a taste of the country where they will be aiming to defend their gold medal in just three months' time.

“I am sure Rio will put on a great Games. I can’t wait to get there," Lancia says. "The Paralympics are the biggest stage by far for wheelchair basketball. We have been training for this moment for years."

Check out the full schedule for the men's and women's wheelchair basketball tournament at Rio 2016