As well as Australia and world No.1 and Olympic champions Brazil, the Hisense Arena tournament features third-ranked Poland and world No.7 Argentina.

But taking on the big guns doesn't faze the Volleyroos.

Last week they left the world No. 4 Italians fuming in the South Korean round, with their setter sticking up his middle finger in frustration at the Australians during their shock 3-1 victory.

While the Brazilian volleyball team has has more international success than their famed football team, Australian skipper Paul Carroll said his players weren't intimidated.

"They are the number one team in the world so we're going to be pretty excited to leave it all out there," Carroll said.

"We always back ourselves - we just have this competitive drive.

"We love being the underdog as well talking through the net and getting our opponents off balance."

In the Australians' favour of another upset victory is that Brazil as well as world champions Poland and the Argentines all surprisingly lost all three of their fixtures last round.

In contrast the Volleyroos, led by their gun libero Luke Perry as well as opposite spiker Thomas Hodge, are on a winning streak.

"We have won four in a row and they are coming off losses so it's nice for us because if their heads are down we can take advantage of that," said Carroll, who stands 207cm.

"They need to win and they have expectations of winning."

After a slow start to the tournament Australia sit 11th and are out of the running for the top-six playoffs, with the USA and France leading the charge.

But after missing qualification for the Rio Olympics at the final hurdle and with the world championships coming up in September the Volleyroos want to stamp themselves among the top sides as they eye the 2020 Olympics.

"We were pretty devastated to miss Rio so clearly now the next big goal is Tokyo," Carroll said.

"With the form that we're in right now and the steps we're taking we want to compete for a medal in Tokyo in 2020."

Australia's first game is against Brazil on Friday night.

Australian Associated Press