POLOCROSSE: South African men's captain Jannie Steenkamp will play polocrosse under lights for the first time on Thursday night when he leads his side into battle against Australia in the 7.30pm Test in the Carroll Truck Sales International Series.

The First Test of the series will be the women's match at 6pm this Thursday at Morgan Park.

Steenhamp said only four of the 14 players in the two South African sides had played under lights.

"I expect to play the Tests in front of the biggest crowd I have experienced,” he said.

"We had 400 people watching the last World Cup in South Africa but I expect many more this week.

"Australia at home must start favourites.”

Australian men's captain Hayden Turnbull played at Morgan Park in 2007 in the last World Cup on Australian soil and estimates there will be 2000 to 3000 people tomorrow night.

"I was our worst player in a game against South Africa under lights in 2007 so want to play well this time,” he said.

"I missed the first two balls in the line-ups.”

Turnbull is delighted with his team's preparation which included more than a week camping at Cunningham and a one-day trip to Killarney.

"Cunningham really looked after us well and it was the same at Killarney.”

South African women's captain Jean Hackland said her team had done some racquet work under lights this week but not with horses.

"We are really pleased with our horses,” she said.

Australian women's captain Suzette Thomas tipped an exceptionally tough battle this week.

"I am hoping to be in the same section as my sister Lizzie Reid in the Australian team,” she said.

Steenkamp said the current series would be a good guide to the April, 2019. World Cup in Warwick.

"We will be playing on the same grounds and with similar horses,” he said.

With Australia and South Africa each with two World Cup wins, Australia at home and the South Africans defending champions, there is no doubt the countries playing this week will be the early favourites to make the 2019 cup final.

"Zambia will be competitive and I have heard New Zealand has some good young players coming through,” Steenkamp said.