Alyson Annan is playing down the fascinating coaching sub-plot as the Hockeyroos legend looks to mastermind an upset win for China over Australia on Friday night.
Annan has joined forces with former mentor Ric Charlesworth to form a coaching dream team for the Chinese, who face the Hockeyroos in the opening match of the Pro League mini tournament in Sydney.
In quite the twist, Annan's dual gold medal-winning teammate from the 1996 and 2000 Olympics in Atlanta and Sydney, iconic striker Katrina Powell, is coaching the Hockeyroos.
Both sides are somewhat rebuilding ahead of next year's Paris Olympics, with Powell openly admitting she's using the Pro League series to try to settle on a squad that can challenge for Games glory in 2024.
Australia's women's hockey stars haven't won an Olympic medal of any colour since that memorable September afternoon almost 23 years ago at the same venue as Friday night's showdown.
Powell will have to pare down 29 contenders into a squad of 16 plus two alternates for Paris - assuming the third-ranked Hockeyroos qualify later this year.
But Annan is more concerned about transforming her new-era Chinese outfit into Olympic dreamers themselves.
"It's not between 'Trinny' and I as coaches. It's between two teams that are very good," Annan told AAP.
"We're No.10 in the world. They're No.3 in the world so we have to be realistic about that and I don't think this is a battle between two (former) roommates from 20 years ago.
"It's a battle between two teams that are growing and are learning and are playing some good hockey.
"Against every team, not just against Australia, we have to come up with a good tactical plan.
"But we'll be playing our game. We won't be looking at the opposition.
"We've recently selected a new group of girls. We've got a young group - average age of 23, which is quite good - who will be playing for the first time international hockey.
"So for us it's about growth and learning and I don't know that Australia are in a different phase. I think they're in the same phase."
The Chinese have opened the cheque book big time to lure Charlesworth as well as Annan, who has found it difficult to pull rank on her legendary ex-coach.
"The roles have changed. He used to be my coach and I used to just nod and say yes and now I'm the head coach and he's the assistant," Annan said.
"So sometimes we have some heavy discussions, which is a learning experience for me in itself, because I've never said no to Ric.
"But he's a very knowledgeable man and someone I can learn from."
The Hockeyroos claimed a bronze medal at last year's World Cup in Europe, then snared silver at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham in their most recent tournament.
But Powell is hungry for more, saying the Hockeyroos need to bridge the gap on heavyweights Argentina and The Netherlands to return to challenging for Olympic glory.
"Australians do expect that - that any sporting team in Australia is pushing for and aiming to achieve an Olympic gold medal," she said.
"That's certainly our aim. That also comes from the legacy of the Hockeyroos and the name of the brand.
"So we're happy to take on that legacy and, I guess, ideal in Australia that we're always aiming to be the best that we can be and hopefully that sees us on the podium."
