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Stingers eye off USA in Olympic warm-up

Murray WenzelAAP
The Australian women's waterpolo team, led by Rowie Webster, face the United States this week.
Camera IconThe Australian women's waterpolo team, led by Rowie Webster, face the United States this week.

Rowie Webster knows it will take something special to end the United States' 68-game winning streak, so that's why the Australian women's water polo team have gambled it all for a shot at Tokyo gold.

The Australian Stingers and Sharks will play three Tests against the United States in Brisbane from Tuesday - their last home games before July's Olympics.

London bronze medallist Webster admits loosening America's grip on the sport will be tough, but the Stingers squad have made a conscious decision to fully commit as they aim to repeat their Sydney triumph 20 years ago.

"We've just turned into amateur professional athletes," Webster told AAP.

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"We've all committed to that and been off work for six months. It'll be 12 months all up and that's the decision we all made.

"We wanted to give it a real crack and chase that gold ... I'd rather be homeless and have a gold medal than some desk job that no-one enjoys anyway.

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"If it doesn't pay off, well you went down gambling, put all your chips on the line and you can live with yourself if you gave it all."

Australia, third at last year's world championships, missed the podium in Rio and that devastation is driving those still in a squad that will be cut by three once the series concludes at the Brisbane Aquatic Centre.

The golden girls of Sydney will reunite in Brisbane and offer moral support to the current crop, while 3,500 juniors will compete alongside the elite squads as part of KAP7 Australian Youth Water Polo Championships.

The men's side have never medalled at an Olympics but, behind world-class captain Aaron Younger, are well positioned to do so this year after silver at the 2018 World Cup and bronze at last year's World League Super Final.

The Australian men's and women's teams will also be donating $100 for every goal scored during the Tests on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday to support various bushfire appeals.

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