Water polo: NZ to host Japan and England

New Zealand's men's and women's water polo teams will host Japan and England this week in their final shakedown for the Commonwealth championships in Australia starting on January 23.

The inaugural Southern Cross series will be held in Auckland, starting on Saturday.

It will be the first time that two senior international teams have visited New Zealand at the same time since New Zealand hosted the women's World Cup in Christchurch in 1988.

The New Zealand women's team looks to have the better chance of a medal at the Commonwealth championships after their 12th placing at this year's world championships in Montreal when they missed a top-eight placing by a single goal.

The men's team's chances are bolstered by some good recent performances by the junior side including a best-ever 12th placing at the junior men's world championship in Argentina last year.

- NZPA