Hockey: Bigger goal in teams' sights

By TERRY MADDAFORD

The New Zealand and Polish players have their sights set elsewhere as they head into the first of three tests in Whangarei tonight.

The series - the first matches between the countries in New Zealand since 1974 - is important for both sides, but the bigger goal is the men's Olympic qualifiers in Madrid in March, where both countries - playing in different pools - will be chasing a spot at the Athens Olympics.

"There are six weeks before that starts, so neither team can be expected to be at their peak right now," New Zealand coach Kevin Towns said yesterday. "We are certainly not looking to peak before Madrid.

"Some of our build-up to this series has been aimed specifically at the Olympic qualifiers. As an example, our training on Monday consisted of a weights session, two hours' practice, a 40-minute sprint session and another 1 1/2-hour practice. But, even allowing for this workload, the players are sharper than they were for the Great Britain series."

There is some pressure on the New Zealand players in this series as Towns must name his squad for Madrid some time after Sunday's third test. 1/21 1/2

Auckland forward Bevan Hari will probably be considered as he is almost back to full fitness.

"The pressure will be on the fringe players if Hari is ready to come back in," Towns said.

"He is the only player outside the squad for this series who is likely to be considered for Madrid."

Canterbury's Bryce Collins has withdrawn from the squad for medical reasons and will not be considered.

James Nation returns to action for the first time since September's national league and is likely to play right half and give another drag flick option.

New Zealand have dropped two places to 11th on the latest ranking. Poland are at 17.

The two teams last met in Osaka at the 2000 Olympics qualifying tournament. Poland won that match 2-1.

In their latest matches, at September's European Cup in Spain, the Poles beat Scotland, Switzerland and Italy, and lost by the odd goal to the Dutch, English and Belgians.

"They play a very patient game with width," Towns said. "They will not be as direct as the British were. It is more the German style of hit and run hard."

With an eye to New Zealand's first three matches in Madrid, against Malaysia, Belgium and Canada, Towns wants his team to chase a clean-sweep of this series.

"There are no excuses. We played reasonably well to draw the series with Great Britain. Now we have to build from that."

New Zealand's likely starting line-up: Paul Woolford, Hayden Shaw, Dion Gosling or Dean Couzins, James Nation, Simon Towns, Blair Hopping or Dharmesh Puna, Ryan Archibald, Mitesh Patel or Wayne McIndoe, Gareth Brooks, Phil Burrows, Umesh Parag.

Other squad members David Kosoof, Lloyd Stephenson and Kyle Pontifex, are also likely to be involved. Darren Smith is unlikely to play in any of the tests because of work commitments.

The first test, at the ITM Rosval Hockey Centre, starts at 7 tonight. The matches on Saturday and Sunday will start at 3pm.

How they have fared

New Zealand v Poland in the last 20 years:

2000: Poland 2 New Zealand 1, in Japan.

1997: New Zealand 3 Poland 0, in Malaysia.

1992: New Zealand 3 Poland 1, in India.

1989: Poland 2 New Zealand 1, in the US.

1985: New Zealand 1 Poland 0, in Spain.