Brits learn World Championship draw

The Brits qualified for the tournament by virtue of their seventh place finish at last year's European Championships in the Netherlands and will be competing at their first World Championships since finishing 16th at the 2003 event, also in Barcelona.

We like a challenge and I think we can put in some good performances at the Worlds

USA won their first Olympic gold at London 2012 last year and have lifted the World Championship title three times since 2003.

Greece are defending World champions and finished runners-up at last year's European Championships while Canada are no pushovers, having finished runners-up at the World Championships as recently as 2009.

Olympian Fiona McCann admits the Brits were under no illusions they would receive a tough draw as one of the lowest ranked teams going into the competition.

But having secured victory over Greece from the World League in 2011 and suffered one-goal defeats to both Greece and USA from last season, she insists they are looking forward to challenging the best in the world again.

“We are in the fourth pool group because we haven’t been to the worlds before so it was always likely we were going to have a tough draw," said McCann.

"We have a good history against Greece and played really well against USA in the Olympic test event.

"We like a challenge and I think we can put in some good performances at the Worlds.

"A few of the team have been playing abroad and have gained some great experience and we’re looking forward to improving on our performances in the last two months.”

The British Gas GBR Junior Women's team have also discovered their group stage opponents for August's World Junior Championships in Volos, Greece.

The Brits, who finished seventh at last year's European Junior Championships in Russia, will face Russia, Hungary and Brazil in their opening three matches.