Australia and New Zealand will be well aware of each other come the Tokyo Olympics after Pro League games were set up between the two rivals.
A series will take place in New Zealand at the end of the month while Perth will host double headers for men and women on June 26/27 in front of spectators in rejigged Pro League encounters.
The matches are set to be the teams’ last on Australian soil before the Tokyo Games.
“Playing these matches within weeks of the Hockeyroos and Kookaburras heading to Tokyo will provide an opportunity for the people of Perth to come and support the players and give them a fitting farewell,” said Hockey Australia CEO Matt Favier.
“Considering there will be no overseas spectators at the Games, it would be fantastic to see a big crowd creating an electric atmosphere at the Perth Hockey Stadium on both days.”
Both nations have been starved of international competition due to COVID with over a year since their last matches.
“To have these matches locked in is great and will be an opportunity for us to replicate matches on back-to-back days which is what we will experience in Tokyo,” said Kookaburras head coach Colin Batch.
Do you have a feature or story idea from across the globe? Get in touch with us!