Trailing 8-4 just before halftime, the Stingers kept their composure to run down the powerhouse side in a 10-4 second half.

The win follows an 8-5 defeat of Canada and all but guarantees Australia a quarter-final berth ahead of their remaining pool games against South Africa and Spain.

Abby Andrews starred with three crucially-timed goals and some fierce defensive work against the physical Dutch, while veterans Bronwen Knox (two) and Rowie Webster (three) both scored late in the final quarter to seal the win.

Hannah Buckling also scored three goals while Zoe Arancini (two goals) was again on target with her cheeky long-range lob, and goalkeeper Gabriella Palm made a clutch close-range save to see off the Netherland's last push.

The Dutch had benefited from a string of Australian exclusions for penalties in the first half to build their lead.

But they couldn't exploit them in the back end of the contest, four times being turned away by some desperate defence when Australia were a player down.

The Stingers have finished first, fourth, third (twice), and sixth since women's water polo was introduced, with the United States emerging as the clear super power after Australia pipped them for gold in Sydney.

But Australia beat the United States - ending a 69-game winning streak - in their most recent competitive hit-out in January 2020 before COVID-19 took hold.

That victory came after the Stingers had opted to become "amateur professional athletes", according to Webster, and drop their outside work commitments in the lead-up to the Games.

Australian Associated Press