HOCKEY: The Kookaburras defeated Spain in the quarter-finals on Wednesday night 4-1, securing their place in the final four after three draws in the pool phase.

Rockhampton captain Mark Knowles led the Australian team to a win with Blake Govers scoring a double, and Aaron Kleinschmidt and Jeremy Hayward also putting up points.

After the disappointing loss in Rio, Knowles' confidence has been renewed by the Spanish defeat.

With over 300 caps currently to his name, Knowles, 33, said beating Spain was a pleasing step for the new group, after drawing in all three of the past pool games.

"We're a bit up and down but it's really important that teams come here and play well in big games,” Knowles said.

"We go back to Rio 12 months ago, we failed to do that.

"Completely new group, completely different coaching staff, you want to win big games.

"We're in the top four now, that's a start. Then you get another chance at a big game.”

Currently world number two, the Australian team will be going up against world number five Germany in the semi-finals in Bhubaneswar, India..

The German team earned their place in the Sunday semi-finals after a close win with the Netherlands in a 4-3 shoot-out after a 3-3 draw on Thursday night.

This is not the first time the Kookaburras have gone up against Germany this season, after drawing with them 2-2 in the tournament in Pool B on Saturday night.

According to Knowles, the crucial aspect on securing wins comes down to the "small moments”, a tactic seen in Argentina's Olympic gold win last year.

"It's very important. In the biggest games, small moments count for so much,” Knowles said.

"We haven't quite been on top of that this tournament so far, so it was nice for Hayward and Govers to score.

"Those small moments, you look at Argentina in the Olympics, those are what win tight games.”

Knowles has also praised the team's new young talent, Lachlan Sharp and Jake Harvie, and said the team's confidence is growing coming up to the semis.

"The biggest positive for those guys is learning how to play in the structure and how fast international hockey is,” he said.

"I'm experienced and it's still very fast. We're getting them into the game, how Australia plays.

"This team needed a bit of belief and to see that we could do it. The coaches believed in us and I think the guys are starting to believe in the game plan, how we're playing and how we're acting as young men and hockey professionals.”

Whoever comes out on top after Sunday's face-off will go up against Rio Olympics gold medallists Argentina or host team India in the grand final on Monday.