KEY POINTS:
The New Zealand women's water polo team have placed a sizeable target on first-up opponents Cuba ahead of the world championships in Melbourne next week.
The squad are striving for a place amongst the world's elite 16 teams, and Cuba, ranked one place higher than New Zealand at 11th, are seen as a must-win match.
Both the women's and men's teams left Auckland for Melbourne today, with the former feeling extremely confident about exceeding their 12th-placed finish at the previous world championships in 2005.
"Our aim is to go over there and beat Cuba," manager Sharon Geary said.
"That's the one we've basically been training for over the last month. To get that game under our belt and then move onto the next round.
"If we beat Cuba and do well, realistically it will improve (the team's) outlook on the game and improve their confidence mentally.
"We want go over there and finish in the top eight, which would be the highest ranking that New Zealand's ever had,"
The championships, held concurrently with the swimming world championships, comprise 16 teams for both men and women, spilt into pools of four.
New Zealand women are grouped with Cuba, European powerhouses Italy, and even more ominously the 2005 world champions Hungary.
The men, seeded 15th, have also drawn a tough pool, with Hungary, silver medallists at the 2005 championships, looming as their first opponents, then Romania and Canada.
After three round-robin games, the top two teams proceed to the medal round .
New Zealand's women had an ideal build-up winning bronze at the Southern Cross tournament in Auckland last week, while the men won just one game from seven.
The women's team have spent the past month in camp, and even with 11 of the 13-person squad based fulltime overseas, Geary said this unit was one of the best prepared ever.
"They're all playing very competitive water polo overseas and most these girls have been together for the last four to five years.
"They've come through the juniors together and then the seniors. They know each other very well and it's a definite advantage."
Geary said the women had made impressive advances over the years, compared to the men, given so many of them were playing professionally and semi-professionally.
The players are spread amongst the European leagues in France and Italy, while a healthy dose play college waterpolo in the United States.
Australia are favoured to claim gold in both the men's and women's competitions.
New Zealand men's and women's draw for the 2007 Water polo World Championships in Melbourne, starting on Monday, March 19:
Women:
March 19: v Cuba
March 21: v Hungary
March 23: v Italy.
Men:
March 20: v Hungary
March 22: v Romania
March 24: v Canada.
- NZPA
