Kristi Harrower played a vital role for UMMC Ekaterinburg in their run to the 2008 EuroLeague Women Final Four and is still under contract with the club, but the point guard looks set to leave in order to return home to Australia.

The 33-year-old playmaker has confirmed she is in negotiations with the Russian giants about a release and is likely to play for her hometown club of Bendigo.

"I have every intention of playing for Bendigo," Harrower said in a statement on the Australian Basketball Federation website.

"As long as Ekaterinburg release me and I get my money, it should all be okay.

"I'm not 100% sure what the terms of the release will be so I'm just waiting to hear what my agent has to say."

Harrower averaged nearly 26 minutes per game in the 2007-08 EuroLeague Women for Ekaterinburg, who upset previously unbeaten CSKA Moscow in the quarter-finals to reach the Final Four before falling to Spartak Moscow Region.

In Russia, she was a teammate of fellow Australia international Penny Taylor.

"Europe has been my life for the last eight years and I'll be disappointed not to play there again this season," Harrower said.

"Ekaterinburg is a great club and I'll miss the private planes and the great apartment and playing alongside Penny Taylor but I won't miss the long Russian winter and the loneliness.

"Plus, I'm excited to play for Bendigo."

Bendigo are coached by Harrower's father, Bernie, and their first game of the new season is on Saturday.

The Australian media have reported that Ekaterinburg are hoping to sign Fenerbahce's EuroLeague Women All-Star point guard, Cappie Pondexter.