Grace Stewart will reach 100 international appearances for the Hockeyroos when she takes to the pitch as Captain against New Zealand tonight (6pm our time).

“When you are little you hope and dream to play one game for the Hockeyroos, so to now be on the cusp of playing 100, it doesn’t feel real," she says.

The 25 year old debuted in January 2016 and is competing at her second Commonwealth Games after two Olympics and two World Cups.

The Australians motivation to win tonight will be heightened by New Zealand (the Black Sticks) snatching the gold medal from them at the last Games.

“Anytime you come up against New Zealand you want to beat them, you always want to win that Trans-Tasman battle, but there will be that added motivation going into the game after what happened in 2018,” said Grace after Monday’s game against South Africa.

Australia is playing in Pool B, against New Zealand, South Africa, Scotland and Kenya, and has already beat South Africa (5-0) and Kenya (8-0). Pool A consists of England, India, Canada, Wales and Ghana.

The top team from each pool advances to the Semi Finals where they will take on the second placed team from the other pool. The winners of the Semi Finals progress to the Gold Medal Match being held on Sunday 7 August.

Go Grace!