The New Zealanders shape as strong contenders at the division two (group B) championships in Cape Town.
Promotion to group A is a realistic aim when they open the tournament against Israel on Tuesday and later play Bulgaria, China, Mexico and host South Africa.
Last year, the Ice Blacks finished third at the same event in Spain, but there is optimism the 2015 squad is stronger and better prepared.
At the heart of the team is a swag of players from the Dunedin Thunder and Southern Stampede teams.
Defencemen Mitch Frear, Remy Sandoy and George Coslett, and forwards Paris Heyd and Connor Harrison, represent the Thunder.
The Stampede provides the captain, veteran defenceman Bert Haines, as well as young forward Callum Burns. Queenstown product Max Macharg, now with the Canterbury Red Devils, is also making the trip.
Calling the shots from off the ice is New Zealand and Dunedin coach Janos Kaszala.
The Ice Blacks have just completed a series of games against the Dunedin team's namesake, the Perth Thunder, in Western Australia to fine tune their preparations for the world champion ships.
The Perth team rolled to victories (8 3 and 7 2) in the first two games, but the Ice Blacks responded well with a 6 2 win in the final game.
Haines (34) told the Mountain Scene this squad was the best prepared and fittest he had seen in his time with the national team.
The Ice Blacks had not only trained more but had adopted a more aggressive strategy under Kaszala, a former Hungarian international.
''Our style is a lot faster now, and we are more dangerous as an attacking team than ever,'' Haines told the Scene.
''Years previously, we've had to go away and be a very defensive team, and kind of weather the storm and then just try and attack when we can.
''We've changed that and we're chasing guys down instead of trying to beat them off.''
It was costing each player about $5000 to go to South Africa, and several good players could not afford to go, Haines told the newspaper.
