The Hockeyroos had a formula that saw them reach the podium with bronze at the last Hockey World Cup and top their group at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
But after the resignation of coach Katrina Powell ahead of the 2026 season, star midfielder Stephanie Kershaw says the team have been working hard to change the way they play.
Ahead of the World Cup beginning on Saturday, where the Hockeyroos will compete along with their male compatriots the Kookaburras, the women's national team are looking to overcome middling form and snatch a third podium in four editions.
Australia will be buoyed by a shock victory over the world No.1 ranked Netherlands in June, although a loss in qualification to lower-rated Chile put them on the brink of missing out on the World Cup, being hosted by Belgium and the Netherlands.
But Kershaw insists the team have benefited from some much-needed time with interim head coach Rhett Halkett to boost their chances of winning a first title since 1998.
"For the last eight years, we've played a very similar style of hockey that we're used to, so this last year we've developed ... a new way of playing," Kershaw, who returned from a post-Paris sabbatical ahead of this year, told AAP.
"It's taken us a little bit to put it all together, so by the time we get to the World Cup we will have had a lot of practice.
"It (loss to Chile) was definitely a defining moment where we realised we're good enough and it's just that last piece of the puzzle that we had to figure out."
Australia's path to World Cup glory won't be easy, considering they play Japan, Chile and back-to-back-to-back champions Netherlands in their group.
Fierce co-captain Grace Stewart is set for her third FIH Hockey World Cup, determined to lead the Hockeyroos to their first world title since 1998 after winning bronze in 2022.
— Hockeyroos (@Hockeyroos) August 10, 2026
Your Hockeyroos World cup journey is proudly supported by APM. pic.twitter.com/IiHvWKfLYR
The men's competition is tipped to be wide open, with Kookaburras forward Tim Brand claiming that up to seven teams can win it.
The No.4-ranked Kookaburras begin their campaign against No.10 Ireland on Sunday before taking on No.6 Spain and South Africa to complete their group stage.
But both Australian teams go into their opening clashes lacking their usual pre-World Cup preparation after hockey was scrapped from the Commonwealth Games program in Glasgow.
Brand, however, believes not competing at those Games won't hinder their chances of securing an elusive first major tournament title since the World Cup in 2014.
"It would've been nice to play in the Games this year, but personally I'd forgotten about it until it was on TV," Brand told AAP.
"We've had plenty of games this year with the Pro League and plenty of time with the team to mash out how we want to play."
