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.
