Elimination quarter final ahead

The win on Sunday night saw the Australians finish second in their group, which will see them meet the Russian Olympic Committee in an elimination quarter final on Tuesday night.

The Stingers who are showing good fight, have a solid core of locals led by Head Coach Pedrag Mihailovic from Caringbah the former ACU Cronulla Sharks water polo coach.

His daughter Lena has also made her first Olympic team this year along with Dolls Points dual Olympian Keesja Gofers.

Bayside Council Sportsperson of the Year 2020 Lea Yanitsas is in goals in Tokyo and Cronulla's Beijing 2008 bronze medalist Rebecca Rippon is in the coaching corner and returning to the Olympic Games for the first time since winning bronze in Beijing.

Rippon said she can't wait for the girls to go out there and do what they did and put their hearts on the line and and give it everything.

"The girls are a remarkable group who always look out for each other and they are always looking to see what they can do better and be the best that they can be.

"When we say we are all in this together they genuinely mean it and they are looking out for themselves, their best mate, the team, the staff and they want to do everything for each other not just their own Water Polo goals in mind," she said.

The Stingers were never expected to be troubled by the winless South Africa on Sunday night,with a six-goal second term onslaught breaking the game open.

Five players scored twice after earlier wins against Canada and the Netherlands were followed by a loss to Spain that pushed them to second in their pool.

Gold medallists in 2000, the Stingers were third in 2008 and 2012 before finishing sixth in Rio.

Captain and triple Olympian Rowie Webster was pleased her side is through to the quarter finals but admits they have to improve.

"It's nice we're through to the next phase," Webster said.

"We didn't execute the way we wanted, but sometimes those games happen and you've just gotta make sure you move on and be positive about the next one."

"Russia are a really good team - fast, like to swim, great centre forwards, great outside shooters.

"But we need to review our tactics; we haven't played them for a long time, they haven't seen us, we haven't seen them.

"We'll give it our best shot."she said

Australia will face the Russians on Tuesday night and if the Stingers can beat them they will be in the medal hunt and meet either the USA or CAN in the semi-final.