Week five of the National Water Polo League continues this week with just four matches being played as a result of the senior training camps in Canberra and Sydney.

Despite the quieter schedule though, the fixtures pose as an important week for the Hunter Hurricanes, who play both the Balmain Tigers and Drummoyne Devils in an all-Sydney series.

The Hurricanes men currently sit in seventh position just outside the top six, and will look to press for that final qualifying spot with two victories.

Last week Hunter pulled off a dramatic 11-10 win against the powerful Sydney University Lions, and player-coach Daniel Marsden said the team is hoping to build upon that momentum as they take on their fellow top six contenders.

"If we are serious about making the finals then we need to beat these team, and we believe we have the squad to take down Balmain and Drummoyne," Marsden said.

"That is definitely our goal for the year and we've starting to hit the right direction after that win over Sydney Uni last week.

"As a group we're slowly coming together, and if you consider the fact we are the only men's team without an import, then we are not doing too badly."

Marsden, who is a two-time Olympian and all-time leading scorer in the National League, has taking up a head coaching role at the Hurricanes and is hoping to lead the club to its first ever finals berth in 2012.

The 41-year old Marsden is himself a two-time winner of the NWPL, and the former Barcelona and Sydney games veteran will be looking to draw upon all his experience as he aims to create the most successful era at the Hurricanes.

"My role is to oversee all coaching systems and all coaching programs and in the few months I have been here I am definitely seeing progression," Marsden said.

"The men have had a good start and it's always good to prove to yourself and the league that you can compete with the top clubs.

"We also have the added incentive of trying to get Mitch Baird to the Olympics and I think that is pushing everyone, so it was great to see Mitch play so well for us in our big win.

"For the girls, they are a very young team and before the start of the competition they lost all of their senior players.

"They are now in a rebuilding phase and although they have not won a game there are a lot of young player with a lot of potential, so it is exciting to see how they develop."

The Hurricanes women will be out to break that duck when their play the similarly winless Drummoyne Devils on Sunday at the Lambton pool.

Both teams are languishing at the bottom of the ladder and the young Hunter girls will be confident of a win in front of their home friends and family.

The Drummoyne men still sit in second spot and can consolidate that position with a win in Newcastle, while Balmain can narrow the gap to Hunter and Sydney University with a victory of their own.

For the full list of results and fixtures go to bit.ly/xaq1S8

For current men's ladder

For current women's ladder

Australian Water Polo