So much of the Black Sticks' year is taken up with competitions overseas. The leading New Zealand players, men and women, are among the most travelled of any sports team in the country. Therefore, hosting eight of the world's top nine teams is a big deal, a rare chance to showcase their game to a home audience.
"You have your main goal of winning the tournament and playing well as a team," Michelsen said.
"But there are other elements, about doing the country proud and putting on a good display of hockey."
Michelsen, 26 and a good chance to be a finalist when the shortlist of women for the World Player of the Year is released at the start of December, reckons she's a self-starter, not someone who needs motivation.
"I have personal standards in the way I want to play and recognise my commitment for the team and wanting to perform my role for the team.
"I don't think I'm necessarily motivated by past or future events. I'm just focused in terms of my role for a game, or tournament."
After pool games, finishing against the world No7 United States tomorrow night, teams move into quarter-finals from Wednesday, where the crossover rules apply, that is top finisher in pool A plays the fourth placegetter in pool B and so on.
On seedings, New Zealand should make the semifinals next Saturday, but there's not much between teams.
Michelsen knows much depends on her performance in leading a Black Sticks team shorn of a core of experienced players when they finished fourth for a second consecutive Olympic Games.
"A big part of my role is leading by example. That's the most important thing.
"It's something I think about a lot. As long as we can gel together as a unit, we should go well."
