After two days of pool-based lifesaving competition, the team heads to Sizihwan Bay for the final day of beach events, lying fifth on the points table.
New Zealand picked up another relay medal in the finals overnight with Glenn Anderson, John Gatfield, Daniel Moodie and Steve Kent collecting a bronze in the men's 4x50m medley relay.
Ayla Dunlop-Barrett and Kent both finished fifth in their 100m rescue medley finals, while Wellington teenager Samantha Lee was the only other New Zealander to make an A final, finishing a spot behind Dunlop-Barrett in the same race.
Three more world records were set in the pool on a day when the slick Italian and Chinese teams showcased their swimming prowess.
Italy have taken a healthy 51-point lead into the final day on 404 points, ahead of China on 353, but crucially Australia loomed next on 267.5 points.
Australia have been near-untouchable on the beach in recent world championships and feature world ironman champion Shannon Eckstein in their ranks.
Germany were on 262 points, with New Zealand on 200.5 and desperate to claw back some ground on the European nations and China.
"The team is already talking about this being a game of two halves and they're adamant we'll have the wind at our backs in the second spell," New Zealand coach Scott Bartlett said.
"We've got a lot of work to do but we're hoping our strength on the beach will at least get us a podium finish at the end of the competition."
