Both finished the first stage of the competition, which has decided the four remaining qualification spots for this year’s Men’s World League Super Final in Russia, with victories.

The host nation completed a comfortable 13-3 victory over China at the Gold Coast Aquatic Centre.

John Cotterill scored six times in the win which also saw Jarrod Gilchrist and Lachlan Hollis net braces for Australia.

“It was a little hard to come into today knowing we'd made the final, but every opportunity we have to play as a team is a good thing,” said Cotterill.

“We are a new team so this was another opportunity for us to play as a group on the international stage and that is nothing to be scoffed at.

“This is a stepping stone and a great opportunity for everyone to show what he can do.”

The US rounded off the group stage with a 20-6 win against New Zealand.

Johnathan Hooper was the top scorer with six and Maxwell Irving got four to his name.

Alongside them, Alex Roelse also ended the game with a hat-trick.

Today’s other match was between the other qualifiers for the Super Final, due to take place between June 20 and 25, as Japan defeated Kazakhstan 14-6.

They will meet again in the third-place play-off tomorrow before Australia and the US meet in the final.

China and New Zealand will play in the fifth-place play-off.

The four teams who had already qualified for the Super Final before this tournament were hosts Russia, Croatia, Serbia and Italy.