Kookaburras and Hockeyroos to return to Darwin for final preparations ahead of the Tokyo Olympics

DARWIN will play host to both the Kookaburras and the Hockeyroos later this week as part of their final preparations before heading off for the Tokyo Olympics

Brooke Peris will return to the NT with the Hockeyroos to round out preparations for the Olympics. Photo: Getty Images

DARWIN will play host to both the Kookaburras and the Hockeyroos later this week as part of their final preparations before heading off for the Tokyo Olympics.

The Kookaburras are ranked the best side in the world heading into the Olympics and boast plenty of firepower within their ranks including the Territory’s own Jeremy Hayward.

The Hockeyroos are also rated in the top four in the world and are looking to show off their potential with Territorian Brooke Peris in the squad once again.

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Both sides have already spent time in Darwin in the lead up and are coming up one last time before the big event from July 10-17 to replicate the heat of the Japanese capital.

Hockeyroos head coach Katrina Powell was looking forward to seeing her squad back in Darwin ahead of the Olympics calling it a great acclimatisation opportunity.

“The squad had a fantastic week long training camp in the Top End a few months ago as part of our acclimatisation to get ready for the hot conditions we will experience at the Olympic Games in Tokyo,” Powell said.

“It’s great to have this opportunity to head up to Darwin again for our official pre-Olympic camp.

“We were made to feel very welcome last time and there is a really engaged hockey and sporting community in Darwin so I know the players are all looking forward to it.

“The athletes and staff, not only of the Hockeyroos but every Olympic sport, have had to adapt and navigate their way through what has been such an unpredictable build up to an Olympic Games.

“We are now almost at the starting line and it’s really exciting to be able to put the final touches on our preparation before heading to Tokyo.”

While the week-long trip won’t include any clinics this time around it will provide a perfect opportunity for aspiring hockey stars to play and train alongside some of their sporting heroes.

Particularly as the visit falls in the third week of the Hockey NT holiday program which will see the Top End’s juniors training alongside the best in the country.

Darwin’s heat has been previously utilised by other Olympic bound squads such as the Australian Sevens men and women sides, giving themselves every possible advantage when it comes to the Olympics.