By Greg Pearson
The Women's Black Sticks head into the Rio Olympics a medal chance but the team only has eyes on gold and after the heartbreaking semi final loss and defeat in the bronze medal in London the team is ready to step up.
The team's confidence is high after a recent win over world number two Argentina and Captain Kayla Whitelock said the team is raring to get on the turf.
"One of the girls said it's like a Mentos in the coke so fizzing," she said.
She was a Berocca day one then she's a Mentos in the Coke. It's cool to see the young ones and the ones that haven't been to an Olympic games and their excitement around the Olympics.
The Black Sticks enter the games ranked fourth in the world and buoyed by some of their best ever results, including a silver at last year's World League Finals.
"The last year and a bit we've been capable of winning those finals whereas previously we weren't," said coach Mark Hager.
"Then we got the wake up call at Champions Trophy with everyone going "wow we aren't as good as we think we are" so it was a good kick in the pants. And now it's back to reality and it's a good contest from here on in."
The introduction of quarter finals to the Olympic tournament means four rather than two teams will progress out of group play.
But that also means more knock out games potentially decided in a shootout.
And the Black Sticks have lost nine straight shootouts stretching back to 2009.
Defender Sam Charlton is confident the team can overcome their poor shootout history.
"Yeah we're completely aware of it and we know once we get there we might be nervous about it but we can't really do anything about it," she said.
"You have just got to play our best hockey and hope that we win in normal time and if it does come up not worry too much about it, just go out there and give it a go."
Four years ago they missed out on the chance to play for gold after a semi final shootout loss.
This time Charlton said they are aiming even higher.
"We are striving for that gold medal and I think that puts a lot of expectation on ourselves but i think that's something that's really exciting and to be a top athlete you kind of have to know how to deal with that pressure and if we ever want to get close to that now's the time to learn how to deal with that."
The campaign begins against Korea on Monday (NZT).
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