Hockey: Black Sticks' winning formula to stay

NEW DELHI - Ben Collier has played 104 games for New Zealand, and his 105th, against the Netherlands in a World Cup match in New Delhi, India, early tomorrow, will probably be more of the same, he says.

The cool-headed bench player has been one of the unsung heroes in the Black Sticks since his 2005 debut against Malaysia.

After initially playing up front, usually out wide, Collier has become a regular in midfield sharing the inside-forward role with Ryan Archibald, Bryce Collins and Mitesh Patel and, in more recent times, Shea McAleese.

Accepting his role as "first cab off the rank" when the rotations begin, Collier has been a more than useful performer since moving north from the family farm east of Eltham to join now-Black Sticks assistant coach Darren Smith at East Coast Bays in the North Harbour competition.

"North Harbour was certainly a different environment to what I had been used to in Taranaki," said Collier. "I enjoyed the change."

Not long after, he was drafted into the national under-21 side for a home series against Australia - one he prefers to forget. "We got thrashed."

As a midfielder in a team which includes Archibald, Collier accepts his game time can be limited as Archibald plays most, if not all, of the 70 minutes in most games.

"It certainly doesn't worry me," said Collier. "You have to be adaptable to play top level hockey. On or off the field it is an intense 70 minutes."

Like the rest of the squad, he knows this second round match against the Dutch is all-important.

Coach Shane McLeod is of the same opinion.

"We have always targeted this as one in which we feel we can get at least a point, hopefully three," said McLeod after the battling 3-2 opening win over Canada. "There is a certain arrogance about the Dutch which gives us the chance for us to react to their game plan."

One player he will be counting on tomorrow morning is Blair Hopping.

One of the most experienced players in the Black Sticks, Hopping took time to find his feet against Canada.

"Blair hasn't had a lot of hockey lately," said McLeod. "I see this tournament as one where he will get better and better."

In another late change to the squad, North Harbour's David Green is returning home for treatment on a bulging disc in his back.

He has been replaced by another North Harbour player, who McLeod admitted is unlikely to see much game time, with back-up goalkeeper Stephen Graham and now Bartholomew seen as the 17th and 18th players, with only 16 named for each match.

WHAT TO WATCH:
* New Zealand v Netherlands
* Tomorrow 4.05am
* Live SS1