He will be the first to admit his women need to be more staunch on the turf, regardless of who between the Kiwis and Americans will improve their draw/loss record after 60 minutes of contention today.
More importantly, he wants his troops to be drunk with self-belief to the extent their eyes become glazed to the fear of impending faults.
"We all need to be a bit more aggressive on the pitch with the belief to back yourself.
"Sometimes, you know, some of our players, who have been sitting in the wings waiting for this chance, are now a little bit frightened of it rather than just going out to play," says the Australian who knows all about the butterflies in the tummy and cold sweat as a former international player who has 271 caps with the Kookaburras as well winning a 1996 Atlanta Olympics bronze medal.
After a 2-1 loss to Japan in round one on Friday, the Kiwis drew 1-1 with the Hockeyroos on Saturday.
"I thought we started okay and then the Aussies got on top of us in the second and third quarters.
"In the last [quarter], probably for 5 to 10 minutes, we started to create something," he says.
Hager says his troops have some serious mileage to clock up on the turf.
It hasn't missed the mentor's attention that undefeated Japan are flexing enough muscle to send everyone scrambling to the drawing boards to reassess their offensive systems after also beating USA 2-1 on Saturday.
"They're not creating that many opportunities but they are defending better than any other team."
The patchy performances, he believes, are down to inexperience which has a correlation with age and cognitive development. But, like any coach, he expects the newcomers to break out of their cocoon.
"If they don't show it now we'll be asking some questions down the line."
So what is the age of reckoning for those running the gauntlet?
"I think 50 caps. We should know whether you're a good international player or not."
That is not to say Hager and his stable weren't expecting that with the advent of a new cycle.
"We demand a lot of them and, you know, they demand a lot of each other."
He rates the Americans a good outfit who back their stamina and aren't shy to put the hours in at their training centre, Spooky Nook, in Pennsylvania.
"If you give them the opportunity they're going to hurt you, so they're a quality side."
While the level of hockey on display here is a far cry from Rio late last year, Hager says all teams are experimenting with fresh blood or those who have been in the periphery waiting for a chance.
His expectations from his women are no different to what they have already brought to the turf.
What Hager yearns for, though, is their ability to go for the jugular and to develop a level of consistency in executing the elementary skills.
"I was telling the girls at halftime that when our midfield goes missing then our team goes missing," he says of Saturday.
However, Hager puts that mantra in perspective by pointing out Amy Robinson and Kelsey Smith in the engine room "are just kids".
"They are still learning the game even though Kelsey went to Rio. She's still learning how to play the game and how to dominate in the midfield so she's got a lot of work to do in that area."
Hager says it was good for the Stacey Michelsen-captained Sticks to salvage a point in their quest to fight to the bitter end against the Aussies.
2017 DRAWS
To be played at the Unison Hockey Stadium at the HB Regional Sports Park, Hastings:
Today, April 3, 4pm: Australia v Japan.
6pm: NZ v USA.
Tomorrow, April 4, 4pm: Australia v USA.
6pm: NZ v Japan.
Thursday, April 6, 3.30pm: USA v Japan.
5.30pm: Australia v NZ.
Saturday, April 8, 3pm: Australia v Japan.
5pm: NZ v USA.
Sunday, April 9, 3pm: 3rd v 4th.
5.15pm: 1st v 2nd.
