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Captain Aran Zalewski and coach Colin Batch say the Kookaburras are ready for pressure and expectations to go up as they build towards the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
The greatest expectations in Tokyo will come from within the Kookaburras, who are embracing the spike in pressure as they prepare to face fellow gold-medal contenders Belgium this weekend in Sydney.
Australia topped the men's world hockey rankings at Rio 2016 but crashed out at the quarter-final stage, failing to finish on the Olympic podium for the first time since 1988.
They have since won finals of the 2018 Commonwealth Games, 2018 Champions Trophy and 2019 Pro League, while smashing England 8-1 in the bronze-medal match at the 2018 World Cup.
"I'm not sure if we necessarily feel pressure from outside. The Kookaburras are a very proud group and we'll put pressure on ourselves, I don't think (external) expectation will affect us," captain Aran Zalewski told AAP.
"Those two weeks are the pinnacle of our sport, so for sure there is going to be some added pressure.
"We have the opportunity to do something special. Pressure comes with that opportunity, but it's something we want to seize.
"Our campaign starts this weekend. It's about continually improving throughout the year ... hopefully that leads us to a point where we're at our best when our best is required."
The Kookaburras' Olympic campaign starts on July 25 against hosts Japan but coming months of Pro League action will provide ideal tune-ups.
None more so than on Saturday and Sunday, when both the Kookaburras and Hockeyroos host Belgium in double-headers at Sydney Olympic Park.
The No.1 ranking will be up for grabs this weekend.
Recent results suggest the rivals could easily clash later this year with far more at stake in the Olympic gold-medal match.
Belgium won a silver medal at the 2016 Olympics, gold at the 2018 World Cup then lost last year's Pro League final to Australia.
"It's definitely a measuring stick. Every time we go out it's like that," coach Colin Batch said.
"We probably could not ask for a better opening to the competition.
"The real test will be later in the year and I think both teams acknowledge that. The Olympic Games is what everyone is working towards."
Regarding Tokyo 2020, Batch expressed similar sentiments to Zalewski.
"We have our own high expectations," Batch said.
"We hope to learn from some past experiences where Australian teams have been in similar situations.
"On a more minor scale we handled it very well at the Commonwealth Games. That was at home, so there was added pressure and interest."
