The India men's hockey team, placed in the 'Pool of Death', will have to punch above its weight to better the colour of the bronze medal from the previous edition when it open its Paris Olympics campaign against New Zealand on Saturday.

The expectations are high from the Indians after they managed to break a 41-year-old medal jinx at the Tokyo Olympics by bagging a historic bronze.

It was a landmark moment for a rich hockey nation like India, who have a record eight Olympic gold medals to boast of.

And the bronze has only raised expectations of a second consecutive podium finish, but it would be easier said than done.

The Indians are clubbed alongside reigning champions Belgium, mighty Australia, Argentina, New Zealand and Ireland in a tough Pool B, while Pool A consists of Netherlands, Germany, Great Britain, Spain, South Africa and hosts France.

Four teams from each pool will progress to the quarter-finals.

The first three pool matches of India — against New Zealand, Argentina (on July 29) and Ireland (July 30) — are very crucial as they would look for maximum points from these games before taking on Belgium (August 1) and Australia (August 2).

The competition also provides the Harmanpreet Singh-led Indian side the perfect opportunity to give a fitting farewell to the 'Wall of Indian hockey', long-serving goalkeeper PR Sreejesh, who will quit the sport after the ongoing Games.

The 16-member Indian team has 11 Olympic medallists, while Jarmanpreet Singh, Sukhjeet Singh, Abhishek, Rajkumar Pal and Sanjay will be making their Games debuts.

Sreejesh and Manpreet Singh, both of whom will be participating in their fourth Olympics, have been the team's pillars for one-and-a-half-decade.

The ongoing Games is expected to be Manpreet's last as well as the Indian team starts its rebuilding phase.

India's chief coach Craig Fulton very well understands the significance of the first three games and is focused on taking one match at a time.

"In Olympics no match is easy. We are looking at the first games to set the tempo before we take on Belgium and Australia. We are taking one match at a time," Fulton said.

Sreejesh is expected to leave no stone unturned in front of the goal to help his side finish on the podium.