High stakes as Aussies crack women's water polo semis

Australia's women's water polo leaders say they're not content with simply ending a four-year international drought at the world championship in Japan.

The Stingers are hungry for more success after returning to the top four at a major international tournament for the first time since capturing the bronze medal at the 2019 world titles.

Australia meet perennial powerhouse Spain in a semi-final in Fukuoka on Wednesday night, following Italy's clash with the Netherlands in the other semi.

The winners not only advance to the gold medal match but secure instant qualification for next year's Olympic Games in Paris.

And the high-stakes suit the Stingers' head coach Paul Oberman just fine.

"We haven't been in the top four for a while," he told AAP.

"And to really crack it shows that we're on the right track.

"It shows that the young kids that we're bringing through are doing the job, we're just trying to continue to create that experience in those younger ones."

Oberman said Australia's stirring quarter-final triumph against Greece would further fuel his outfit.

The Stingers won 9-8, holding out the Greeks in a scoreless last quarter on Monday night.

"To win a quarter-final, what a great experience," he said.

"It's having these awesome experiences that hopefully helps them grow in the future."

Australia's captain Zoe Arancini hailed the return to the world's top four.

"It has been a long time since (we made) top four so it's a huge deal for us and for the program as well," she told AAP.

"The girls have worked hard for this and I am so proud for it to come to fruition."

Both coach and captain said the Australians weren't daunted by their looming fixture against Spain, the Olympic silver medallists from the Tokyo Games of 2021.

"Bring it on. We're riding this momentum," Arancini said.