Great Britain's women's hockey squad took bronze at London 2012 and they have high hopes of going better at next month's Rio Olympics.

While the Great Britain men's hockey team were on their way to Rio for the Olympic Games, the women's squad were fine tuning their preparations before setting off for Brazil.

After winning a bronze medal at their home Olympics in London four years ago, coach Danny Kerry said they were hoping to go further in Rio.

"I certainly feel there's sort of expectation. It kind of comes with the territory. I think if you're in this.... in this game, you're an Olympic sport, you're training to win medals, that's why we do it. So you kind of have to welcome the expectation."

Eight of the women's team who won bronze at London 2012 return, while Crista Cullen and Alex Danson are set for their third Games appearances.

Helen and Kate Richardson-Walsh will be making their fourth Olympics appearances, and their first since marrying in September 2013. They were previously Helen Richardson and Kate Walsh.

And Kate believes that, alongside her wife at the Games, Team GB has a good blend of personnel.

"We've got really good experience. We've got eight returning Olympians. We've got four Olympians who've been to multiple Olympic Games. And then we've got eight of the girls who have never been before. So (a) really good mix. And then we've got pace, youth and skill and we've got a really good defensive unit. Very experienced. Strong and fast. If you put all those elements together, if we can make it all click, we could really do something special."

Kate Richardson-Walsh has captained the team since 2003 although she nearly retired before leading England to silver at the 2014 Commonwealth Games. England were 17 seconds away from taking gold in Glasgow - yet Australia won in a penalty shootout.

So the 19-strong women's hockey squad head to the Olympics optimistic of success and rightly so after plenty of the squad triumphed as England won the European Championship in London last year.