The World Hockey League Finals begin on Friday in India with the Australian men's team looking to finish the year on a high at the last major tournament of the season.
Fresh from wrapping up a Test series win over India this week, the world No.1 Kookaburras kick off their campaign against Belgium in the eight-team competition in Raipur on Saturday (AEDT).
Captain Mark Knowles and a host of senior players joined the Kookaburras this week for the World League with Australians fielding a largely youthful side for the three-Tests against India.
"We have gathered a lot of information on our players over this tour, which will help us make the tough decision (Olympics squad)," said Australian coach Graham Reid.
"Every game at the upcoming World League will be important for us. Having the quarter finals format in place, anything can happen as it brings into play every team at the tournament."
The Kookaburras won the World League Semi-Final in July this year with a last-minute victory over Belgium to qualify for Rio.
The top four teams from the two World League Semi-Final events played in Argentina and Belgium over the summer will go head to head in this epic season-ending showdown, which will see the winners crowned Hockey World League Season Two champions and guarantee their place in the 2016 Champions Trophy.
With all eight teams already qualified for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games and vital FIH World Ranking points on offer, competition is set to be fierce.
Reigning world and Oceania champions Australia will be seen as favourites in Pool A which also contains world No.7 Belgium, fourth-ranked Great Britain and Canada (14th).
In Pool B, European and reigning Hockey World League champions and No.2 ranked the Netherlands are likely to take some stopping.
The tournament kicks off on Friday with two mouth-watering Pool B fixtures.
Host nation India take on Argentina before Germany and the Netherlands meet in a rematch of the 2015 European final.
The Kookaburras ramp up for the Olympics with a series in Perth against Great Britain in April-May in 2016 before the Champions Trophy in Argentina in June before the Rio Games two months later.
KOOKABURRAS' MATCHES
Saturday 28 November 2200 AEDT: Kookaburras v Belgium
Monday 30 November 02:00 AEDT: Kookaburras v Great Britain
Wednesday 2 December Midnight AEDT: Kookaburras v Canada
Thursday 3 December tbc: Quarter final
Friday 4 December tbc: Quarter final
Saturday 5 December tbc: Semi final / 5-8 playoffs
Sunday 5 December tbc: Semi final / 5-8 playoffs
Monday 7 December tbc: Medal matches.
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