It will be difficult to get a repeat result at Invercargill next week.
At the Olympic Games, the Australian women's team finished fifth and New Zealand was last in the 12-team competition, which is their current world ranking.
Australia reached top form and finished second at the recent Challenge Trophy competition for the top six teams in the world.
"On the day, anything can happen," New Zealand women's manager Debbie Balme told the Otago Daily Times yesterday.
"But it will be difficult."
The New Zealand team is training on Dunedin's artificial turf this week in preparation for the Oceania Cup at Invercargill.
New Zealand women's hockey is going through a rebuilding period at the moment and only six players from the Olympics are playing at the Oceania Cup at Invercargill.
Players still in the squad are Kayla Sharland (Central), Emily Naylor (Central), Krystal Forgesson (Auckland), Kate Saunders (Canterbury), Stacey Carr (Canterbury) and Beth Jurgeleit (Wellington).
Naylor (23), a dependable midfielder, is the most experienced member of the Black Sticks and has played in 116 tests.
The other centurion is Carr (25), who has played 103 tests.
Sharland (23), a solid defender, has played 98 tests and Forgesson (26), a striker, 77.
Older players in the team are Jurgeleit (28) in goal and 30 year-old newcomer Bianca Russell (North Harbour).
Returning to the team are Midlands defenders Clarissa Eshuis (22) and Kate Mahon (25).
Five members of the team played in this month's Junior World Cup at Boston when New Zealand finished 10th from the 16 participating teams.
Auckland striker Katie Glynn (20) was the top goal scorer at the tournament.
The new coach of the Black Sticks is Australian Mark Hager, who is expected to develop a more competitive streak in the New Zealand team.
The Black Sticks' draw for the Oceania Cup at Invercargill is: August 26, v Australia; August 27, v Samoa; August 29, final.
