Dalefield prepare for battle

Dalefield know they have a battle on their hands when they meet Indians in a Wellington premier division men's hockey play-off match at the National Hockey Stadium in Wellington tomorrow.

Not only will the result decide who finishes fifth and sixth in the competition but the loser will very probably face a promotion-relegation fixture against the top second division side on a date still to be confirmed.

Taking the whole season into account, Indians would have to start a firm favourite even if they will be hugely disappointed to be so low on the points table after winning the premier title last season.

But if you go back only one week then you have to like the chances of Dalefield who came from behind to beat Indians 4-3 at Clareville last Saturday.

That victory would have done two things, obviously boost the confidence in the Dalefield camp but also ensure any element of surprise they might have had in their favour was well and truly gone.

Also needing to be considered when assessing the prospects of the two sides is the venue with Dalefield clearly having shown their best form when playing in front of a home crowd. They will not, of course, have that advantage on this occasion.

Even so Dalefield manager Dave Blackwood believes his side are more than capable of beating Indians on successive weekends.

"When you have done it once there is no reason why you can't do it again."

Tactically, Blackwood expects Dalefield coach Greg Clark to continue having his side play a style of hockey based around utilising the speed and enthusiasm of the many promising youngsters in their line-up.

"We don't have a lot of experience compared to other premier division teams but we can play at a pace which can worry any of them and that's what we have to do, the less time they have to get their structure working the better for us."