KEY POINTS:
North Harbour Hockey chief executive Darrell Simpson is torn.
On the one hand, he would be more than happy if the Black Sticks men's team saw off Australia and perhaps Fiji in next year's Oceania qualifiers for the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Victory in those play-offs would guarantee their spot in China.
It would also render months of hard work useless.
The North Harbour Association was yesterday awarded hosting rights for one of three early-2008 qualifying tournaments with the three winning teams grabbing the last spots in the 12-team Olympic tournament.
But if New Zealand take the Oceania spot through the continental process, they would no longer be called on to host the February or March 2008 six-team qualifiers.
"That would mean all the work we had put in would count for nothing," said Simpson. "For once, I suppose we hope our men do not beat Australia."
Heading bids from the Wellington and Canterbury associations, it was a red-letter day for North Harbour, who have been at their Rosedale Park South base for 10 years.
"Apart from hosting odd test matches over the years, we have never been given an opportunity like this," said Simpson.
A new surface is being completed on the No 1 turf at the Crown Relocations Stadium after rain and wind rendered the old surface useless. There are also plans for a new carpet on the No 2 turf in the second half of next year.
The association already has a third water turf and the old sand pitch.
