Incredibly Great Britain keeper Maddie Hinch predicted her team would upset the odds and gatecrash the Olympic Final 16 days before the tournament began.

After a stunning campaign yielded seven straight wins, Britain will face the Netherlands, winners of the past two Olympic gold medals, in the final at Deodoro at 9pm BST on Friday, despite pre-tournament predictions that they would fail to compete for a medal.

The Holcombe stopper - who is guaranteed at least a silver - is sure to be a key figure in the final, and will be the focus of plenty of attention as she has signed a one-year deal to play in Holland for big-guns SCHC next season after three years at the Rochester-based club, during which she helped Holcs into the national Premier Division.

Hinch spoke to KentOnline at GB training on July 21, a week before the squad - which features Holcs teammates Sam Quek, Nic White and Shona McCallin, aswell as Canterbury Ladies star and former Sutton Valence School pupil Susannah Townsend - flew out to Rio and 16 days before their win over Australia in their opening game in which she shone and which set the tone for the rest of the competition.

Hinch claimed in July: "I'd be disappointed with anything less than a Gold medal, but let's just wait and see how things pan out.

"I don't care if we win 8-7 in the final and I've let in seven shockers as long as we win."

She added: "It would be nice to have the whole GB v Dutch final, up against the current Olympic champs.

"I've had a bit of stick from some of the players at my new club about it, saying 'looking forward to seeing you with your silver medal haha.'

"It would be interesting if it was a GB Dutch final. That would be so funny If I was the one who turned up with the gold medal... there's definitively a bit more of an incentive to do so now."

The 27-year-old refused to rule out a return to Holcombe Park after her stint abroad, adding: "I've loved it at Holcombe and I hope I can play there again one day. At the minute I have only signed for one year in Holland. We'll see what the future holds.

"I want to go to Holland and do a good job. I have a fantastic opportunity to join a play-off side and I want to be part of something special."

Hinch has previous with the Dutch having saved the crucial penalty which gave England victory over the Oranje in the European Championship Final in 2015.