A three-day camp at the Australian Institute of Sports training base this week will launch Hinchley and partner Nat Cook into the second round of the AVC Beach Volleyball Continental Cup in New Zealand.

Hinchley, from Napoleons, will jet out on Tuesday for the two-day tournament in Mt Maunganui, which is a vital part of the Olympic qualification process.

A podium finish will secure a spot to play against Asian rivals in the Continental Cup finals in June for a chance to qualify, unless a pairing has already earned automatic entry with a top-16 world ranking.

Hinchley and Cook, who paired for the 2008 Beijing Games, are 25th in FIVB rankings behind fellow Australian duo Louise Bawden and Becchara Palmer, 15th.

Australian coach Steve Tutton, who has been a major part of Australia’s last four Olympic campaigns, was confident of Hinchley and Cook’s chances.

“Australia has a real chance of qualifying two teams in the women’s tournament for London through the top 16 stage and through the Continental Cup process,” Tutton said. “But not only do teams have to make the top 16 they have to have played in 12 FIVB tournaments and so that’s another challenge for Cook and Hinchley.

“So we have to show our dominance throughout the Continental Cup tournaments and every team will be in there playing their hearts out for Australia and it will also be vital for us to be armed with good quality scouting information.”

Hinchley and Cook enter the Continental Cup off strong form this summer on the domestic circuit.

The pair collected gold in St Kilda on Sunday in the National Beach Volleyball Series, backing up a gold won on the Gold Coast last month.

Hinchley, writing for her Australian Olympic Commitee blog, said the win on her home beach continued a great start to a big year.

“It was absolutely brilliant winning a home National Tour and St Kilda beach was alive with its full breadth of character and pizzazz as everyone came out into the sun,” Hinchley said. “I love our Vic beach crew and it made me so proud to win in front of them with my friends and family watching.”