Cash boost for Australia's Olympic water polo stars

With a rich Olympic history and rare mix of cross-sport pedigree, Australia's women's water polo stars are convinced another gold medal is in the offing at next year's Paris Games.

But first they must qualify.

The Stingers get that chance at next month's world championships in Japan, where victory will ensure their sixth straight Olympics appearance since winning a memorable gold at Sydney 2000.

Failing that, the Stingers would be hot favourites to beat New Zealand in a three-game playoff series across the Tasman in August to nab the Oceania Olympic spot.

"We're pretty confident that we're going to firstly qualify for the Paris Olympics," Stingers star Tilly Kearns told AAP on Monday.

"Then I'm always going to say a gold medal is realistic.

"If we get on the podium, we're going to be happy because we know that we should be up there.

"We've gone a few competitions now without being on the podium and that's disappointing and we're sick of that, and now's our chance to get up there."

Kearns is the daughter of former Wallabies captain and two-time Rugby World Cup winner Phil Kearns.

Along with Bronte Halligan, the daughter of former New Zealand rugby league international Daryl Halligan, the Stingers are blessed with some truly gifted sporting all-rounders.

Tilly Kearns reckons any edge is a good edge when the going gets tough in the heat of international battles.

"I think it's more an athlete's kind of mindset that we bring, more than the physical genes," the 22-year-old said.

"Like, sure I'm big and strong but it's more that I watched my dad grow up being an athlete and learning how he handled himself and watching his work ethic.

"They're very different sports - dad actually played water polo when he was growing up and he was no good at it so he went down the rugby path.

"And I tried rugby and I was no good at it so I went down a water sport path."

Kearns grew up playing "every sport under the sun" so her emergence has been almost inevitable.

"You know dad," she said.

"Dad's approach was "just keep the kids active'.

"I was good at swimming, I love swimming. I loved netball and of course I grew up in a rugby family.

"So if you kind of mesh all them together, you have water polo."

Tellingly, the Stingers and Sharks, the Australian men's national team, now also have significant financial backing after Ord Minnett signed on to become the sport's first naming-rights sponsor.

Sharks ace Blake Edwards says the money will be crucial in allowing the two Australian teams to compete on a level footing with their European and US rivals.

"We have a real disadvantage being located so far from the rest of the world," Edwards said.

"With this funding, it brings a lot of excitement that we can finally get that games and exposure that we desperately need so that we can play the top level."