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Australia

The Australian men's hockey team leaves for Europe tomorrow to take on the world's top nations and prepare for the Commonwealth Games.

The Kookaburra's match against Germany is expected to be the highlight of their campaign.

The rivalry between Australia and Germany is so fierce they cannot even agree on who deserves the title of world number one.

"If you ask most of the guys in the Kookaburras we'd say we're number one," Australian striker Andrew Smith said.

While Germany won the last World Cup, the Australians are the Olympic champions, winning gold in Athens.

"It's always a tough fight against Germany. We're looking forward to getting into it and the more the merrier in the lead-up to the Commonwealth Games," Kookaburras striker Travis Brooks said.

The Kookaburras will be aiming for their third consecutive Commonwealth gold next year and a win at home could be just what the game in Australia needs.

"Hopefully when the Commonwealth Games are on we get some really good exposure and it'll really take off," Smith said

While hockey is a popular sport to play in Australia, it is a game few will go along to watch.

And despite their success, the Kookaburras are lacking the financial clout of some of their overseas competitors.

"I think it's exposure, with success comes more exposure," Australian goal-keeper Stephen Mowlam said.

Hockey is played professionally overseas, filling grandstands in India and Europe, and the Kookaburras hope the same could happen in Australia.

"It's got the potential to get there because it's a spectacle to watch," Mowlam said.

But for now, playing against professional teams means making sacrifices.

"The days are long, you start at 5.30am and finish at eight o'clock at night," Mowlam added.

But with a third Commonwealth gold in their sights, the Kookaburras could also be making history.

"We want to create a bit of a dynasty for hockey so that's our goal," Mowlam said.

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