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#1 Australia
Off late, the kookaburras desist from launching the characteristic blistering attacks immediately after the opening whistle, but that is no reason for defenders to breathe easy - the persistent high press eventually keeps coming in waves, which sooner or later causes the men at the back to either err or wilt under the unrelenting pressure.
As if the more seasoned campaigners like Jake Whetton and Trent Mitton were not enough to force defences to crumble, the Aussies now have Dylan Wotherspoon, Timothy Brand, and Pro League sensation Jacob Anderson, who scored six goals in the inaugural season.
Australia is a side which prefers to keep the intensity up until the death irrespective of the match situation and a Colin Batch's marauding forwards will be keen to begin with a bang against their newest rivals Belgium at Sydney in late January.
Can the Aussies improve upon their tally of 49 goals in 16 matches which they managed in the first edition?
Most experts familiar with the Australian set up should have no hesitation to answer in the affirmative about a side who seem to be on a never-ending quest to set new standards - for themselves and for the world of hockey.
