WATER POLO: The Aussie Stingers will head to Barcelona next month for the water polo world championships with six members of the team that won a bronze medal at the London Olympic Games.

Dual Olympian Bronwen Knox will captain the squad that also contains London stars Holly Lincoln-Smith, Glencora Ralph, Rowena Webster, Nicola Zagame and Ashleigh Southern.

Joining them are another seven members of an unchanged Stingers team that finished seventh this week in the world league super finals in Beijing.

None of the seven - Lea Barta, Kelsey Wakefield, Keesja Gofers, Hannah Buckling, Jayde Appel, Zoe Arancini and Isobel Bishop - has played at senior world championship or Olympic level.

However, Australian head coach Greg McFadden said they showed promise with their improvement and attitude in Beijing.

"While we did not have a great result in Beijing for the world league finals, we believe that the team improved throughout the tournament and our goal has always been the world championships," McFadden said.

"While in Beijing, the players we selected displayed the true Stingers' culture of never ever giving up and we know they will work hard to make the necessary improvements in the lead-up to Barcelona and we have the faith in them to do this."

While Australia recorded two wins and four losses in China, McFadden said the team was a extremely close to a podium finish.

"We lost twice to the Olympic silver medallists Spain - by a goal and in a penalty shootout - and to Hungary, who finished fourth in London - also in a penalty shootout."

In Spain, the squad will play in a four-nation tournament in Portugalete from July 12-14, before moving on to Barcelona for the world titles from July 20 to August 4.


Stingers: Lea Barta (Sydney University), Kelsey Wakefield (Brisbane), Bronwen Knox (KFC Breakers), Keesja Gofers (Sydney University), Hannah Buckling (Sydney University), Glencora Ralph (Fremantle), Holly Lincoln Smith (Cronulla), Jayde Appel (Balmain), Rowie Webster (Victoria), Nicola Zagame (Cronulla), Zoe Arancini (Fremantle), Isobel Bishop (Adelaide), Ashleigh Southern (Brisbane).

AAP