POLOCROSSE: Fourteen years ago, South African women's captain Jean Hackland was at the first World Cup at Morgan Park as groom for her husband James who was in his nation's team.

This week, she is captain of the South Africa women's team which will play Australia and her husband is her groom.

"The tables have been turned,” she said.

Hackland is captaining the team for the first time after being one of four players in this women's team who played in the 2015 South Africa World Cup win.

"The horses we have are outstanding, it makes for a even contest,” she said.

She said the major difference between the horses in the two countries was the speed of the horses in South Africa and the agility of the Australian horses.

"Most of our horses are thoroughbreds while in Australia many of the horses are Australian Stock Horses. The ASH is being introduced in South Africa in breeding programs,” Hackland said.

South African men's player Graham MacLarty is confident of a win against Australia.

"It should be good fun,” he said.

"I would be happy to ride four or five of the horses in our pool,” he said.

MacLarty won the award for best men's player in the 2015 World Cup in South Africa and will play No.1 in one of his country's men's sections.

He has only played international polocrosse at mixed level and said playing men's and women's Tests added a new dimension to the sport.

It will be a family affair for many of the South Africans with his father Bruce the men's coach and sister Natalie is in the women's team.

"It is great Natalie is in the women's team except when she steals my horses,” he said.

Australian women's coach Paul McGrath said both the home teams were happy with the horse draw.

"The two horse pools were even so it didn't worry us which group of horses we drew,” he said.

"We had the final hard hit out with the horses on Tuesday morning.

Action at Morgan Park runs from 3pm Thursday to 3pm Sunday. Tests will be played each night at 6pm and 7.30pm. The Barastoc Interstate Series starts Thursday and Shell Cup club action from early Saturday. Seating available.