Hockey: Black Sticks without Burrows

New Zealand can overcome the worrying loss of striker Phillip Burrows and win tomorrow's Oceania World Cup men's hockey final in Suva, but coach Kevin Towns isn't holding his breath.

Towns' concern switched last night from his team's chances against the Kookaburras to the health of star striker Burrows, who was admitted to hospital with a blood clot in his arm.

Burrows, 25, will probably be forced to stay there beyond Sunday when his team fly home, such is the degree of care needed for such a condition.

The loss of the Dutch-based, 127-test veteran will hamper the Black Sticks' chances of upsetting their world No 1 opponents. He was a goalscorer in New Zealand's tight 2-4 loss on Tuesday.

"We still believe we have an opportunity," Towns told NZPA.

"Obviously Phil being unable to play complicates the issue for us. But with (penalty corner specialist) Hayden Shaw back and the fact we've got a pretty mature side there, I believe we do have an chance."

Whoever wins will get automatic entry to next year's World Cup while the losers will go to a qualifying tournament in China.

Towns said he was realistic about his team's chances against a team they haven't beaten for six years. He suggested another tournament together in 2006 wouldn't be the worst thing in terms of development.

" We've been planning for quite some time, not only for this tournament but beyond. We've had to take into account the rankings, which would suggest we will go to China, so we've prepared for that."

Neither team's buildup has been helped by the presence of the tournament's third team, Fiji, who lost 0-16 to New Zealand on Wednesday and 0-26 to Australia yesterday. The latter result is reportedly an international world record.

Towns said those matches served no purpose, with training this week providing more of the intensity they require.

Burrows had trained well and scored six goals against Fiji with some brilliant touches but Towns said it had been apparent that all was not well since they arrived in Suva.

"Since we got here he's been feeling a little lethargic and quite tired. I actually think this had been building up from before he arrived."

Burrows is based with Dutch club Rotterdam and has clocked up plenty of flying time recently.

"We don't know for sure what's caused this but the assessment is that it's likely to be from training, plus the flying," Towns said.

- NZPA