The Australian surf life saving team are banking on some fresh faces and the return of Olympian Naomi Flood as they seek redemption in this week's seven-nation International Surf Rescue Challenge in Japan.
The Australians were well beaten by a rejuvenated New Zealand at the world championships in Adelaide last year and the Kiwis will start favourites in the first major international competition of 2013.
This week's three-Test series has attracted the national teams of Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Japan, USA, South Korea and Hong Kong.
With rising surf ironman star Kendrick Louis, three-time national single surf-ski champion Lachlan Tame and swim star Eliza Smith making their open team debuts, the Australians, captained by Shannon Eckstein, are rebuilding ahead of next year's world championships in France.
"We won't be taking anything for granted this time and we know the Kiwis have a very strong team," said Australia's head coach Danny Short.
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"They (the Kiwis) are the world champions and we know we've got our work cut out if we're going to have any success against them.
"It's an event of redemption for us.
"To a degree we were well and truly beaten in Adelaide, both in the pool and in the surf and this is our first real competitive step towards Rescue 2014.
"I think the level of hurt really shone through and it's really pushed us to the next level now."
Flood, who has her sights set on a K1 kayak berth on the 2016 Olympic team for Rio, was delighted to be back in the team.
"There were a lot of things that didn't go right in Adelaide and I definitely didn't want to be part of a losing team coming back here to resurrect the Australian name and the Australian team as number one in lifesaving," said Flood.
The clash between Flood and New Zealand's London Olympic kayak gold medallist Lisa Carrington will be one of the mouthwatering duels.
Flood will also take her place in the open women's beach relay alongside champion beach flagger Melissa Howard, swimmer Eliza Smith and ironwoman Kristyl Smith, while Australia's open men's beach relay will be beach sprint star Dean Scarff, Tame and swimmers Tim Schofield and Dev Lahey.
Australian team:-
Men: Shannon Eckstein (Northcliffe), Kendrick Louis (Newport), Dean Scarff (Collaroy), Jake Lynch (Newport), Lachlan Tame (Avoca), Tim Schofield (Terrigal), Dev Lahey (Northcliffe).
Women: Kristyl Smith (Northcliffe), Rachelle King (Terrigal), Naomi Flood (Manly), Miranda Bell (Northcliffe), Melissa Howard (Kurrawa), Eliza Smith (Northcliffe).
