Discount the Hockeyroos chances of winning the Hawke's Bay Cup at your peril.
Australia proved they are building well towards Sunday's final when they took the lead in the four-team comp with a 3-1 win against Australia in last night's curtainraiser at Unison Stadium. The two teams had drawn 1-all in their previous encounter on Friday.
"Put that win down to the scouting we did on them and the knowledge we gained since that draw which we weren't happy with," a smiling Hockeyroos captain Mariah Williams said after the victory.
"We had the right game plan for these wet conditions. We knew we had to lift the ball and not keep it on the deck and that worked well for us."
After today's rest day the Aussies take on the second placed Kiwis tomorrow, another team they drew 1-all with earlier in the Vantage Festival of Hockey at the Hawke's Bay Regional Sports Park.