Sydney will host an Olympic dress rehearsal for both the Kookaburras and Hockeyroos this weekend, with both teams declaring the Pro League will aid their quest for gold at Tokyo.
Australia has long been regarded as a powerhouse in world hockey but that reputation wasn't enhanced at the 2016 Olympics in Rio, where both the men's and women's teams were eliminated in quarter-finals.
Much has changed since then, including the coaches of both teams, and recent results suggest they should be medal contenders in Japan later this year.
One unprecedented change to Australia's Olympic preparations is the advent of the Pro League, in which the world's best clash in home-and-away fixtures then finals.
In previous Olympic years, Australia didn't have the luxury of playing as many high-quality clashes against a diverse range of teams.
Australia's men and women start their 2020 Pro League campaigns at Sydney Olympic Park, where there will be double-headers against Belgium on Saturday and Sunday.
Australia defeated Belgium 3-2 in last year's maiden men's Pro League final, while the Hockeyroos lost the inaugural women's decider to the Netherlands in a penalty shootout.
The men's grand-final rematch will essentially determine who claims the No.1 ranking - and arguably the title of Olympic gold-medal favourites.
"There's a rivalry building between us. They were an emerging team going into the last Olympics and made it to the final," Kookaburra Flynn Ogilvie told AAP.
"Having them first up is ideal, they're a quality team and we will see where we're at and what we need to improve.
"The Pro League is a big positive for us. In previous Olympic years, the European teams would play a lot of games against other European teams. Whereas we're stuck out here with not a lot of countries nearby."
Ogilvie, who is gunning for his first Olympics, regards scoring a goal in last year's Pro League final as a career highlight.
Hockeyroos co-captain Jodie Kenny, who is gearing up for her third Olympics, suggested the Pro League would form a crucial part of her team's preparation for the 2020 Games.
"The next six months we've got constant international matches, it's fantastic," Kenny said.
"It'll help make sure we are staying on track and not slipping away with anything.
"Rather than having a big four or five months of prep without nearly as many games."
The Kookaburras haven't won Olympic gold medal since 2004, while the Hockeyroos haven't finished on the Olympic podium since winning gold at home in 2000.
Australian Associated Press
