Hockey: Experience the key for Junior World Cup

On paper, the New Zealand junior women's hockey team should have the edge over Australia for next week's men's and women's Oceania Junior World Cup Qualifying Series in Wellington.

New Zealand have five Black Sticks, including three Olympians, while Australia has four players who have represented Australia, but none made the Olympic side. But statistics have never meant much against the Aussies.

Both sides will play a three-test series, with games on Tuesday 7 December, Thursday 9 December and Saturday 11 December, all at the National Hockey Stadium in Newton, Wellington.

For the most experienced of the women's players - Olympians Kayla Sharland (Manawatu), Emily Naylor (Manawatu) and Stacey Carr (Canterbury) - the series will cap a year highlighted by the Olympics and last month's Champions Trophy in Argentina.

The newest Black Sticks, strikers Jessica Brewster (Auckland) and Karlie Marloney (North Harbour), played at the Champions Trophy.

In midfield, Carr and Naylor will be an attacking force. Naylor was nominated for the World Hockey Young Player of the Year.

For Australia, experienced Hockeyroo Susannah Harris will be the standout player with her goalscoring capability, while centre-half Madonna Blyth was the pick of the Australians introduced at the Champions Trophy.

The New Zealand junior men's team includes North Harbour's Shaun Barnett and Canterbury's Shea McAleese, both yet to represent New Zealand.

The Men's Junior World Cup is in Holland in June; the women's in Chile in September.