Great Britain's Ali Wilson believes the team's transformation from a regimented unit four years ago to the open, attacking side they currently are increased their medal chances exponentially.
After coming fifth in Beijing, their best finish since the gold medal win of 1988, coach Jason Lee made the decision to radically alter the style he wanted to play.
It paid immediate dividends as England won their first major title at the 2009 European Championships and 12 of that squad will lead the challenge at London 2012.
Great Britain are now more Barcelona than Bolton, especially in terms of how their players interchange positions, and Wilson said that gives them a much greater chance of winning gold.
"At the time fifth (in Beijing) was really good for us," said the Beeston star, who is nominally a defender but is regularly employed up front.
"We were pretty satisfied with how our games went last time but we have moved on since then,
"A lot of that team are still together and the reason a lot of that team carried on after the last Olympics was to improve and do better than last time.
"Results over the last few years have given us reason to be optimistic.
"A key part of our game is the flexibility and people playing in an attacking style.
"That means when you pass the ball running forward to create space and offer passes and because of that you end up all over the pitch.
"It happens quite a lot and people have to be secure in whatever position they end up in because the game moves on too quickly for you to reorganise and get back to where your name was on the team sheet.
"It is something we work on and we are quite used to now - certain people have to move around more than others and I'm one, I have to do a bit on the forward line and a bit in defence.
"It presents challenges but it keeps things interesting."
Wilson said the work they had put in since Beijing meant nothing had been left to chance.
"We have worked so hard on all aspects of our game, we have covered every base and we are ready to go now," he added.
"There is a knowledge in the team that our best is good enough to get a medal rather than relying on luck or a bounce of the ball."
Wilson will be hoping for double Olympic success in the coming weeks as his girlfriend is swimmer Fran Halsall.
There had been some minor tension in the house as she secured her place in Team GB several months ago while the Sheffield-born 28-year-old had to wait until last month.
"It was a relief because it's been a long road with lots of training and selection was quite nervy," said Wilson.
"Fran was more nervous about selection than I was because she secured hers at trials earlier in the year and so has been able to relax and start to get excited.
"It's been hard to get away from the Olympics and I had to try hard not to get excited about it until I had my spot on the team.
"Now I can get excited and it's great to know she will be there as well.
"Our schedule is pretty packed so if I can get into the pool to see one of her races I will but her competition is only the first week so second week she will be coming to watch some hockey."
