There has been no stopping the Australians, who have won every single edition of the tournament since hockey first appeared on the programme at Kuala Lumpur 1998.

Australia’s co-captain Aran Zalewski said the team had benefited from a tour of Europe prior to the Games.

"The way we look at hockey, the way we play and review our performance, is much more intense on tour," said Zalewski.

"A lot of our growing and learning comes on tour."

Australia have been drawn in Pool A along with South Africa, Pakistan, Scotland and New Zealand - who will aiming for revenge.

New Zealand went down 2-0 to Australia in the men’s final at Gold Coast 2018.

The Pool B consists of India, England, Canada, Wales and Ghana.

New Zealand are the reigning champions in the women’s event after seeing off Australia 4-1 in the final four years ago.

Australia have triumphed in four of the past six additions and coach Katrina Powell has high hopes for her side as they face New Zealand in the group stage.

"[Our goal] is to play in that big game [against New Zealand], to get the gold medal game experience," Powell told ABC.

"That's definitely what we're targeting.

"Now the test is okay, we've got ourselves into the big matches at the World Cup. 

"But can we consistently do that now on the world stage?

"And Commonwealth Games is a really great test for that."

Australia and New Zealand are in Pool B along with South Africa, Scotland and Kenya.

Hosts England are in Pool A where they will meet India, Canada, Wales and Ghana.

"We feel we're starting to gel quite well and looking forward to the next few games," said England captain Hollie Pearne-Webb.

"There are a lot of top teams here.

"Playing them is going to be extremely competitive, and hopefully we can show up when we play against them and get a result."

India had pulled out of both the hockey competitions at Birmingham 2022 citing COVID-19 concerns before agreeing to take part following discussions with the Commonwealth Games Federation.

India coach Graham Reid said he was determined to secure a medal after losing the both the men's and women's bronze-medal matches at Gold Coast 2018.

"What happened at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games in 2018 added up to what happened at Tokyo," Reid told News9 Sports. 

"It's hard to pinpoint these things to one specific moment in history, but I certainly sense now that there's unfinished business. 

"This group certainly has something that it wishes to achieve. 

"So, I'm sure that result [from four years ago] plays on their mind. 

"And that's a positive thing.

Competition is due to start tomorrow at the University of Birmingham and should conclude on August 8.