Great Britain won a four-team tournament in Sheffield in October

Great Britain's women's handball team this week begin the toughest tournament they have competed in, as part of the World Championship qualifiers.

Hosts Netherlands look most likely to gain the single qualifying spot available from the six-team event.

GB are looking for extra experience as they aim for an Olympic debut in 2012.

"We're hoping to win at least one game and not be beaten by more than 18 goals by any of the others," performance director Lorraine Brown told BBC Sport.

"This is the first time Great Britain have competed at this level, against the top nations."

The team have played two major tournaments in the last year, finishing fourth at the Euro Challenge Trophy in Cyprus in March then winning an invitational tournament in Sheffield in October.

They beat Turkey Under-21s in a tough match in Sheffield but must now step up to face Turkey's senior team on Friday.

Netherlands - ranked ninth in the world last year - provide the first match on Tuesday and Greece - ranked 29th - are the final opponent on Sunday.

606: DEBATE Discuss Great Britain's chances on 606

Great Britain men's and women's teams, both formed from scratch in 2005, have targeted top-eight finishes at London 2012.

"Two years ago we were beaten by the Faroe Islands 8-54. We played them twice this year, won one game and lost the other by one goal," Brown added.

"That tournament is an indicator of how far we've come and this tournament will be a benchmark of how far we've yet to go."

The winner of this week's group will progress to a further qualification tournament in February, when higher seeds join the process, with the top teams going on to the finals in China next November.

Great Britain's qualifying fixtures:

25 Nov v Netherlands

26 Nov v Lithuania

28 Nov v Turkey

29 Nov v Czech Republic

30 Nov v Greece

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