Hockey: Final prep game for Black Sticks

The Black Sticks complete the build-up to their most important tournament since the Sydney Olympics when they play Korea at Lloyd Elsmore Park in Pakuranga today.

It will round off a three-game preparation for the final Olympic qualifying tournament, which starts at the same venue on Friday.

So far New Zealand have lost 2-0 to the United States and drawn 3-3 with Spain, both of whom are in the opposite pool to the Black Sticks in the tournament.

With a world ranking of six, Korea are three places higher than New Zealand and the game offers a final opportunity for coach Ian Rutledge to do some last-minute tinkering before facing world No 5 Britain in the opening round of the qualifying tourney.

He was more satisfied with the draw against Spain - in which teenager Kayla Sharland, Meredith Orr and Jaimee Provan contributed NZ's goals - than he was against the US.

Against the Spaniards, NZ were 3-1 up until just before halftime, when Erdoitza Goikoechea scored, and in the second half Raquel Huertas converted a penalty corner to tie things up.

"It was a good performance," Rutledge said. "It was a big step up from our display against the United States. It's a long time since we scored three goals from open play."

The top five teams advance to Athens. Working strictly off the rankings, New Zealand will go into the competition rated the fifth best of the 10 teams.