Hockey: Black Sticks play Aussies first after Russians pull out

The Black Sticks face Australia first-up following a redraw at the Indira Gandhi Gold Cup tournament in New Delhi.

Russia's late withdrawal has led to a change in the schedule of matches with the New Zealanders playing their first match tomorrow after originally being set to play Italy today and Australia on Wednesday.

"I'm not really concerned about the changes," said coach Ian Rutledge yesterday. "It will still be a tough ask with five games in seven days in the heat.

"Temperatures have been 30-plus every day."

The Black Sticks have yet to have a warm-up match or even get to train on the match turf.

"They have been repairing and cleaning the turf and the hope is we will get some time on it today," said Rutledge. "It is a bit like trying to arrange warm-up games here ... let's just say they do things a little differently here.

"This tournament is all about preparing for the Oceania World Cup play-offs so little things like not getting on to the match turf or having to have the schedule redrawn are not that important."

Rutledge said the players had settled well and got through half a dozen training sessions without any problems.

He is yet to settle on a starting XI for the opening match but it seems Jaimee Provan will play in what will be her 100th international.

While the rules provide for teams to name just 16 (of 18) players for each match, Rutledge was hoping to get that changed to allow for full squads to be named.

"Given the conditions, it makes more sense to have as many players on the bench as possible," he said.

While Rutledge has included eight or nine under-21 players in his squad, he said the Australians have a full-strength roster. New Zealand play Italy on Monday, India on Wednesday and Malaysia on Thursday.

HOW THEY STACK UP

Goalkeepers
Beth Jurgeleit (Wellington) 25 years, 23 caps
Anita Wawatai (Manawatu) 24, 12

Defenders
Emily Naylor (Canterbury) 19, 40
Kate Saunders (Auckland) 23, 4
Clarissa Eshuis (Canterbury) 18, 6
Frances Kreft (Canterbury) 20, 14
Sheree Phillips (Manawatu) 25, 19
Bridget Kight (Canterbury) 21, 0
Kate Mahon (North Harbour) 22, 0

Midfielders
Meredith Orr (Canterbury) 27, 74
Stacey Carr (Canterbury) 21, 46
Suzie Muirhead (Wellington) 30, 217
Jane Maley (Canterbury) 25, 10

Strikers
Kayla Sharland (Manawatu) 19, 57
Krystal Forgesson (Auckland) 23, 0
Jaimee Provan (North Harbour) 27, 99
Honor Dillon (Canterbury) 23, 16
Lizzie Ryan (Canterbury) 19, 11

Coach: Ian Rutledge.
Assistant coach: Sue McLeish.

Recent results
Against competing teams (NZ ranked sixth):

Australia (world ranking 3rd)
Nov 2004 (Champions Trophy, Argentina), lost 0-3.
Aug 2004 (Olympic Games), lost 0-3.
Jun 2004 (ANZ Challenge, Australia), lost 0-2, 0-4, 3-6.
May 2003 (Oceania Cup,), lost 0-6, 0-2, 0-2.
Aug 2002 (Champions Trophy, China), lost 1-3.

India (world ranking 15th)
May 2004 (test series, NZ), won 2-1, 4-2, drew 3-3, 3-3.
Jul/Aug 2002 (Commonwealth Games, Manchester) won 3-1, lost 1-2 (semifinal).
Jun 2001 (test series, NZ) won 3-1, 1-0, lost 0-1, 0-1.

Italy (world ranking 23rd)
Jul 2003 (Champions Challenge, Italy), won 2-0.

Malaysia (world ranking 25th)
Aug 1971 (International tournament, Auckland) won 12-0 (only previous meeting).