China defeated New Zealand 4-0 in the earlier game to go to 10 points and an assured berth in the finals.

If Argentina wins over the Netherlands in the last match of the round robin later on Saturday, Germany plays China in the finals and if Netherlands wins over Argentina, Netherlands earns a finals berth.

Germany went into its match against Australia with nine points and by failing to secure the win they have left their fate in the hands of Argentina beating Netherlands.

Australia's first win of the tournament came with goals in each half.

Karen Smith deflected in the first goal from a Melanie Twitt free hit taken in the middle of Germany's defensive quarter line and they took the one goal advantage into the break.

Both teams failed to lift until the last 10 minutes of the second half.

Madonna Blyth slotted Australia's second goal when she was left unattended in the circle and Nadine Ernstine-Krienke scored a similar goal seconds later to get Germany on the scoreboard.

"It was a little bit better today but we still have to make a large improvement between now and the World Cup ëin Madrid in September," said Frank Murray, Australia's coach.

"Germany did not get on top of us as China did in the first 10 minutes and Argentina did in the last 10 minutes of those games," Murray said.

"We used a higher rotation of players so they were fresher when they came on and were able to run harder," Murray said.

China scored from three of its four penalty corners to defeat New Zealand 4-0.

The Chinese scored two early goals inside the first eight minutes as they did against Australia, Argentina and Germany.

Ma Yi Bo converted a first penalty corner with a flick high inside the right post and on the second penalty corner, pushed wide of the left post for Li Hong Xia to slap in from a sharp angle.

China scored twice again in the second half, Ren Re getting her second of the tournament at the right post from a pass by Li Hong Xia and Fu Ba Rong converting China's third penalty corner with a drive which crashed into the backboards inside the right post.