"We'll be treating Canada like any other game and we'll be focusing on implementing our coach's strategies rather than the result tomorrow," says the 26-year-old from Guangdong Province who has slipped on the captain's armband for three years in a five-year stint to represent her country.
Their only defeat so far in the cup has come at the hands of the Mark Hager-coached Black Sticks to the tune of 3-1 on Sunday.
The 2008 Beijing Olympic silver medallists have beaten non-Olympic side Ireland 4-0 in their opening match of pool B and on Tuesday they pipped India 2-1, courtesy of goals from Qian Yu and Mengyu Wang, to find a perch on the second rung of the ladder below the hosts.
Cui says while World No5 China got fewer goals against No 4 New Zealand their analysis showed her players created more opportunities to have shots at goal.
"New Zealand were much better at finishing their opportunities than we were."
However, the university student pursuing a degree in sport training hastens to point out they were two players down when the Black Caps pounced on the opportunity to pump in two more goals.
Consequently she feels it's imperative her troops show discipline especially when there's no pressure in a game where the opposition are in your face all the time.
"When you're playing teams like New Zealand and Australia you need to be physical and aggressive but we need to improve to make sure we don't concede unprofessional fouls."
Cui says the art of overcoming unforced errors lays in players' ability to be tactically sound.
Traditionally China build their template on the foundation of a stoic defence and, while that hasn't changed, they are focusing on how to be more adept in foraging at the coalface on the hockey turf.
"This year we just wanted to focus more on our attacking here," she says, revealing the defensive facets that provide the impetus for counter-attacks will no doubt remain.
For Cui, putting up the shutters in the back line is simply a case of "having a sense of responsibility".
Unlike India, China have tasted success on the Olympics platform.
Two members of their squad, striker Song Qingling and midfielder Li Hongxia, were part of the Beijing Games team that got on the podium.
"They bring a lot of experience, not just on the field but also in life," she says of Song and Li.
"They teach us how to communicate with people, how to unwind after training and all those sorts of things."
Nevertheless, the most important thing the pair have impressed on the China squad is the need to enjoy their time out on the turf, especially if they are selected to represent their country in Rio, because existing in that state will ensure everything else will take care of itself.
Under coach You, the women have evolved and the Bay tourney has been pivotal in that process.
"I feel our girls have grown up a lot since we came here last year."
Cui started playing hockey at the age of five with some encouragement from her father who, as a student himself, was a municipal marathoner.
Her elder sister went on to become a professional hockey player in Shanghai, in a country that became bronze medallists in the 2002 FIH Perth World Cup and that year also clinched gold at the Champions Trophy.
"The opportunity came when my dad's friend recommended hockey because in China it was still a developing sport so he said it was a great opportunity to become good at it in the future," she says, adding her sporty relatives are extremely proud to have their first Olympian in the family.
Cui competed in the 2012 London Olympics where China finished sixth.
