New Zealand will be one of six teams competing for the title, and with the top two teams gaining promotion to the second division there is plenty to play for.
Coach Stephen Reid said the Junior Ice Blacks go into the tournament confident they can do better than their fourth-place ranking.
"We are realistic about how hard it is going to be, but we have a real competitive squad ofy oung guys that are playing to win it."The 20-man squad, which features four players from Queenstown, two from Gore and two from Dunedin, has assembled for three mini-camps in the lead-up to the tournament.
This has enabled the team to work on combinations, build camaraderie and become more competitive, Reid said.
He expected the toughest opposition to come from No 1 ranked Iceland and China.
"'Iceland have dropped down from division two, so they will have a point to prove, and you always have to be wary of China, who are an all-round solid outfit.'"
Reid said his team was well-rounded, with three key leaders.
Queenstown's Mitch Frear will captain the side, with Dunedin's Regan Wilson and Auckland's Jordan Challis the assistant captains. Both Challis and Wilson are members of the Ice Blacks.
Reid said there were "three or four" players looking to break into the senior side and a good performance next week could see them get the call-up.
The tournament starts at the Dunedin Ice Stadium on Tuesday and finishes on Sunday.
