The pair has a full-on season coming up, competing at the North Island Open Golf Croquet Championships and Under-21 New Zealand Golf Croquet Championships where they will get a chance to evaluate their fellow team members ahead of the Worlds.
Waiopehu College student, Declan, 16, who last year with partner Max de Vre took the National Secondary School Golf Croquet title, said it was a shock to hear he had been selected for the national team but he was not going with any expectations.
"When I play I try not to expect anything so I can handle defeat. We are just going there to play."
Connell is taking a similar approach but admitted a top five finish would be at the back of his mind.
Although the team plays as individuals, Connell said they would have an advantage as brothers, helping and supporting each other. Agreeing they were about equal in playing ability, both started on a 12 handicap with Declan now on one and Connell on three after taking a year off because of work commitments.
In golf croquet, the player to get seven points first, by getting their ball through the hoops first, wins the game. Their opponent tries to do everything they can within the rules to prevent them, by knocking or blocking their ball.
"There can be quite a bit of silent aggression. You can feel the tension in the air but you're not allowed to be abusive so you have to whisper under your breath," said Declan.
Connell said it didn't pay to get too aggressive.
"You lose composure and pretty much lose the game. At top level play you study your opponent's style. If they have a fast game, you take your time and slow their game down."
Declan said his friends consider croquet a sport for elderly people.
"It's a misconception. I think it's a young person's sport, it's just that you don't hear much about it."
The Under-21 World Championships is the stepping stone to the open World Championships but the brothers are not looking that far ahead yet.
"We're just focusing on one game at a time," said Connell.
