Hockeyroos coach Adam Commens confident his side is well positioned ahead of Rio Olympic campaign

HOCKEYROOS coach Adam Commens says a fighting loss to world leader Holland this week is validation his squad is perfectly primed for Rio’s unique challenges.

Hockeyroos coach Adam Commens: “We are pretty happy with where we are at the moment.”

HOCKEYROOS coach Adam Commens says a fighting loss to world leader Holland this week is validation his squad is perfectly primed for Rio’s unique challenges.

Now they need to turn up the heat on their pool opponents to sidestep the world’s No.1 ranked side until a potential gold medal match.

The Hockeyroos lost 2-0 to Holland despite creating plenty of chances on the new Rio pitch, with Commens thrilled with their substantial gains since the London Olympics.

Australia takes on Great Britain and the USA in its first two preliminary games in the first two days of competition, with five pool games in eight days.

And with an even pool of six teams as well as three points for a win and just one for a draw, he says Australia plans to pour on the goals to ensure safe passage to the quarterfinals.

After a substandard, lumpy pitch in London the newly-laid Olympic pitch in Rio is already being lauded as fast and true.

Commens says Australia is ready to capitalise — starting with its first game against Great Britain on Saturday night (AEST).

“We are pretty happy with where we are at the moment. We had a good week in Chile with two matches against Chile and a practice match against Holland which I thought was really worthwhile against world-class opponents.

“We played them in our last practice match leading into London and lost 4-0 and got a bit of a hiding.

“Last night the game was very even and we were in a position where if we come up against the world No.1 side again the possibility of us winning is very real.

Hockeyroo Gabrielle Nance sprints away against New Zealand.

“We have a good group of players in the right head space and we are really looking to take on sides like the Netherlands.”

After a trio of gold medals in 1998, 1996 and 2000, the world No. 3 Hockeyroos have finished fifth at the past three Olympics.

But Commens says a packed Rio schedule with five pool games in such a short space of time throws up multiple challenges.

“We will look to try to score as many goals as possible,” Commens said.

“We have got a quality penalty corner battery, was good counterattacking style, we create plenty of opportunities and we have real speed through the midfield with Brook Peris and Gabrielle Nance and a big engine room with clever forwards. It’s a really balanced team.”

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