Hockey: Black Sticks off to summer heat in Darwin

The New Zealand Black Sticks react during the test against Argentina. Photo / Getty Images

As winter starts to kick in, the women's Black Sticks are emphasising the need to stay familiar with the summer temperatures ahead of the Rio Olympics.

Despite a team of 18 taking part in this week's International Open in Darwin, the full national squad of 25 has travelled for a pre-tournament camp to get some training in the heat.

Assistant coach Sean Dancer says dealing with the temperature is a key part of their Olympic preparations.

He says heat's the big thing they want to work on, and nothing from the Kiwi summer compares with the heat they're facing at the moment.

Striker Petrea Webster is back to provide a key boost in the team's latest step.

Webster makes her comeback having missed the Hawke's Bay Cup due to a broken nose and concussion suffered in January.

Dancer says Webster's ready to return.

He says Webster's been good and back to her usual self creating lots of pressure.

New Zealand meets India to open its campaign at the tournament tomorrow, with Japan and hosts Australia also taking part.