The London 2012 silver medallists appear to be warming up for their home Games, where they will be expected to challenge for gold, in fine fashion after their successes at Carioca Arena 1.

They began by seeing off Iran 25-19, 25-16, 28-26 and then saw off continental rivals Argentina 25-21, 25-13, 26-24.

The three-time world champions will now play the United States in the final pool game tomorrow, with the Americans also enjoying two wins.

They saw off Argentina 26-24, 25-23, 22-25, 25-22 and then got the better of Iran, coming from behind to win 23-25, 25-13, 27-25, 26-24.

Twelve teams are contesting the intercontinental round at the men's World League - and were split into three groups of four for the initial three matches, with all results counting to the overall league table.

In Pool A1 at Sydney's Super Dome, hosts Australia began with a 29-27, 25-18, 25-22 defeat against Belgium.

France beat Italy 25-23, 25-22, 25-18 in the other pool match played.

Pool C1 in Kaliningrad saw hosts and Olympic champions Russia suffer a heavy straight sets defeat to Serbia, 25-22, 34-32, 25-17.

Poland beat Bulgaria in four sets, 19-25, 25-19, 25-17, 25-20.

The women's Grand Prix competition, which follows the same format as the World League, also continued with the beginning of the second set of four-team groups.

After opening with three wins on home soil, Brazil were defeated in Pool D1 in Macau, losing a two set lead in a 16-25, 29-31, 25-19, 25-19, 18-16 defeat to Serbia. 

China made it four wins out of four, however, defeating Belgium 25-19, 25-17, 25-22.

In Pool F1, Russia joined China on a 100 per cent record as they saw off The Netherlands 25-17, 25-23, 28-26 in Bari.

The match between hosts Italy and Thailand will have to be rescheduled, however, after a power cut at the PalaFlorio venue.

Action in both the World League and Grand Prix continues tomorrow across the groups.