Hockey: Black Sticks ready to show result no fluke

Keeping his players' feet on the ground won't be a problem for Black Sticks coach Ian Rutledge before tonight's second World Cup qualifying match against Australia at Sydney.

New Zealand took the initiative with their fine 1-0 win over the Hockeyroos at Auckland on Sunday. Winning the Oceania Cup best-of-three series will put New Zealand into the World Cup at Madrid next September.

But there is plenty of respect for an Australian side whose previous loss to New Zealand was more than five years ago, and although they might be going through a rebuilding phase, they haven't suddenly become poor in the space of 70 minutes.

"Australia are probably the most aggressive side in world hockey. They ask questions of you every time they've got the ball," Rutledge said.

"So we've got to make sure we're switched on the whole time. Every play matters against Australia. We played with a huge amount of intensity and focus on Sunday. It's important we back it up on Thursday."

Rutledge likes the maturity he sees within his team, even though several players are still teenagers.

"We learned a lot from the Olympics. We're starting to learn how to win and it's starting to show," he said.

In Athens, the Black Sticks lost the fifth-sixth playoff to Australia 3-0.

New Zealand are ranked sixth in the world, with Australia fourth.

Captain Suzie Muirhead has been on the end of many poundings from the Hockeyroos. She was also one of five present players involved in the 3-0 win over Australia at Sydney in 2000.

"This has been a long time coming, but we've been slowly improving over the last five years and I think we're competing comfortably with them now," said Muirhead, who will play her 224th international tonight.

She has vivid recollections of Australia's dominant era, which includes three golds at the last five Olympics and a bucket of Champions Trophy and World Cup titles.

"It's difficult to forget that, but times have changed. They've got a lot of younger players who aren't as good as those in that era. They know we're a good side," Muirhead said.

Australian coach Frank Murray did not know the extent of the Hockeyroos' dominance over the Black Sticks in the last five years until he read the numbers before Sunday's match. He is dismissive of their significance.

"That's rubbish," he said. "This New Zealand team are miles better than Sydney 2000.

"They are competitive with anybody in the top six. They're bloody good hockey players. Rutto [Rutledge] is doing a good job."

The third match in the series - irrespective of whether New Zealand win tonight - will be at Sydney on Saturday.

* New Zealand v Australia Olympic Park, Sydney, 9 tonight.

New Zealand:

Suzie Muirhead (c), Beth Jurgeleit, Niniwa Roberts-Lang (all Wellington), Anita Wawatai, Emily Naylor, Caryn Paewai, Kayla Sharland, Moira Senior (Central), Lizzy Igasan (North Harbour), Clarissa Eshuis, Meredith Orr, Stacey Carr, Michelle Hollands, Honor Dillon (Canterbury), Di Weavers (Midlands), Frances Kreft, Krystal Forgesson (Auckland), Charlotte Harrison (Northland).

Australia:

Wendy Alcorn, Madonna Blyth, Suzie Faulkner, Nikki Hudson, Emma Meyer, Angie Skirving, Karen Smith (all Queensland), Nicole Arrold (ACT), Toni Cronk, Kate Hollywood, Megan Rivers, Rebecca Sanders, Melanie Twitt (New South Wales), Emily Halliday, Kobie McGurk, Kim Walker (WA), Rachel Imison (Victoria), Donna-Lee Patrick (South Australia).