The Australians will take on world no.2 Belgium in back-to-back games in Sydney on Saturday and Sunday to launch their FIH Pro League campaign. It's a highly anticipated match-up, but Wollongong's Flynn Ogilvie warns fans the Kookaburras may not be at their sharpest.

"It's always a bit weird with the first game of the year," the 26-year-old said.

"We were off over Christmas and new years, so we've only been training for two weeks. But we always want to win and we always want to do our best - we might just be a little rusty. But we've been training pretty well here in Perth and we're keen to get to Sydney."

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The Kookaburras are the defending Pro League champions after they sealed a 3-2 win over Belgium in the final. Olgivie and Albion Park's Blake Govers each scored a goal. Belgium will be keen to atone for that loss.

"Their club season has a break over winter so they might not be as sharp as well. But they're the world no.2 and have been world no.1 recently," Ogilvie said.

"I think they're always hungry against us, there's starting to become a bit of a rivalry between us. They always want to beat us and they're definitely one of the powerhouses of hockey as well. We always want to beat them as well."

While the Kookaburras want to start their year well, Ogilvie admits they have a longer term goal in mind.

"This year is all about the Olympics," Ogilvie said.

"We want to win the Pro League, but we just want to keep improving in the build up to the Olympics. If that means we win the Pro League, that's a bonus. But I think every team in the world this year is focusing on the Olympic Games.

"With the introduction of the Pro League, we get to play the best teams in the world twice during an Olympic year. It's great for us because we get competition in highly competitive games, compared to just training during the year The only negative would be the travel but I suppose that comes with having to play the best teams in the world."

The Hockeyroos will also kick off their Pro League campaign with two games against Belgium this weekend.

The line-up includes Gerringong's Grace Stewart, who is part of Australia's 27-player squad for 2020. Stewart told the Mercury last November that she had started to feel more comfortable in the Hockeyroos side.

"Though I still get just as nervous as I did at the start, if not even more nervous now," the 22-year-old said.

"But I definitely feel more comfortable in my role and knowing what I'm doing."

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