Hockey: Borren up for hockey spot

Jan Borren is chasing a further two-year term as coach of the New Zealand women's hockey team.

The New Zealand Hockey Federation will interview Borren and one other candidate on Friday, after Borren decided to apply to continue with the team he took to the Sydney Olympics.

The federation will also appoint an assistant coach and manager.

Incumbent manager Dayle Jackson has stood down, but Selwyn Maister, Borren's assistant at the Olympics, and Chris Leslie, who helped Borren at other tournaments, are among those seeking the assistant coaching role.

There are five applicants for the manager's role.

The chief executive of the federation, Ramesh Patel, said he hoped to have confirmation today of a four-test series against South Korea.

"We asked them to come here in late February-early March," Patel said. "But, like us, they are going through some changes and it might be that the series is delayed a month."

The federation has sought a two-test series against Australia if the Korean tour falls over.

"Even if the Koreans do come, we might play the Australians anyway."

The New Zealand men's team will play three tests for the Manning Cup in Melbourne from May 3 to 6.

The series will be played as part of the official opening of the redeveloped hockey complex, which will be used for the 2006 Commonwealth Games.