In all reality it probably sits third on the totem pole beneath the Olympics and World Cup, but Black Sticks men's hockey defender Andy Hayward rates the 33rd Champions Trophy tournament as important as any the side have played in recent years.
North Harbour Hockey Stadium hosts the event over the next week.
Unlike World Cup and Olympic tournaments, which are contested by 12 teams, the Champions Trophy brings together just the world's top eight. Hayward, a former Tauranga Boys' College student, said the quality of opposition meant there was nowhere for any team to hide.
Hayward played in last year's tournament in Germany, where the Black Sticks were sixth and last, and with an Olympic Games looming in London next year, the Auckland tournament should be even more cut-throat.
"These [Champions Trophies] tend to be even more intense than the Olympics and World Cups because there's only eight teams - six some years - so any team can beat the other on their day if they play well enough," said Hayward, nursing a leg injury after Monday night's 3-1 pre-tourney win over Great Britain.
"There's no easy games and managing injuries, staying fit and recovery between games becomes important, especially if you've got back-to-back games."
The Black Sticks are targeting the second-round match against Korea as a "must win" and also the first-round clash with Germany as the other game vital to their top-four hopes. Their other pool B match is against the highly ranked Dutch.
All five teams who played the 1978 inaugural Champions Trophy - or Super World Cup as it started out - will be in Auckland.
That first tournament, won in Lahore by hosts Pakistan, brought together Australia, Great Britain, New Zealand and Spain, who finished in that order.
After a five-team tournament in 1978 and seven in 1980, six teams contested the Champions Trophy from 1981 to the present day, apart from 1987 and 2007, when eight teams played.
New Zealand have played in five Champions Trophies, finishing fourth of the five teams in 1978, fifth in 1984 and sixth (last) in 1983, 2004 and last year. Australia have been the most successful team, winning 12 times. The Netherlands have won eight, as have Germany (including the former West Germany).
Hayward said a top-four finish would show they were on track for the Olympics. Anything less would shine a light on their shortcomings.
"Everything we do now is geared towards London and it's the same for all teams here - finding out about the opposition and learning a lot about ourselves, because July and August next year is what it all counts for.
"We're definitely capable of pushing for a medal, and a lot of older guys in our squad have been to two Olympics already and aren't going just to participate - they want to go and medal ... Beating Aussie [at the Oceania Cup] has given us some confidence but there's still things to work on that other teams have exploited. The next week is a peg in the ground to where we sit."
His parents, grandparents and brothers will head to Albany to watch him play and he's hoping to reward them with a goal or two as one of the Black Sticks' specialist penalty corner drag-flickers, with Matt L'Huillier the other.
Hayward said they'd decide on the spot who would step up to flick. With both playing in defence they were often not on the field at the same time.
"If we're both on there's a call made or there might be a special variation we do. At this level it's as much about keeping teams guessing because PCs are such an important part off the game."
Black Sticks for Champions Trophy
Goalkeepers: Kyle Pontifex (Capital) 31 years, 130 caps; Stephen Graham (Midlands) 26, 25
Defenders: Andy Hayward (Midlands) 26, 112; Blair Hopping (Midlands) 31, 240; Dean Couzins (Auckland) 30, 237; Brad Shaw (Canterbury) 28, 124; Blair Tarrant (Southern) 21, 41; Matt L'Huillier (Capital) 24, 13
Midfielders: Ryan Archibald (Auckland) 31, 251; Phil Burrows (Auckland) 31, 262; Shea McAleese (Central) 27, 140; Steve Edwards (North Harbour) 25, 132
Strikers: Simon Child (Auckland) 23, 152; Blair Hilton (Capital) 22, 62; Stephen Jenness (Capital) 21, 32; Shay Neal (Northland) 21, 16; Hugo Inglis (Southern) 20, 63; Nick Wilson (Central) 21, 93
Pool A: Australia, Great Britain, Spain, Pakistan
Pool B: Germany, Netherlands, Korea, New Zealand
New Zealand at the Champions Trophy (1978-2010): Statistics Played 26, won 2, drawn 6, lost 18, 44 goals for, 81 goals against Hockey