Hockey: Fresh-faced Black Sticks to do battle in Argentina

The New Zealand men's hockey squad to next month's Champions Challenge tournament in Argentina will be selected with an eye to life after the 2010 Commonwealth Games.

Although the winners of the challenge tournament, featuring the seventh to 12th-ranked nations, gain automatic promotion to the elite six-nations Champions Trophy, Black Sticks coach Shane McLeod said it would be used to develop the next generation.

New Zealand qualified for next year's World Cup by beating Malaysia 2-1 in the final of the qualifying tournament at Invercargill.

The core of that side will be retained for Argentina but veteran defender and penalty corner specialist Hayden Shaw, 29, will be rested along with his brother, midfielder Brad.

"We're going to take the opportunity to take quite a youthful sort of team," McLeod said, saying the aim was to build depth for the 2012 London Olympics.

"We're looking at a team that will compete beyond 2010 so there'll be opportunities for some players there [in Argentina]."

Striker Priyesh Bhana and goalkeeper Stephen Graham fit into that category while Hayden Shaw's Canterbury teammate, Andy Hayward, is being groomed as the future penalty corner exponent.

The 24-year-old midfielder/defender scored both New Zealand's goals against Malaysia with drag flicks from the set piece, illustrating New Zealand are well served in that department.

Although the Shaw brothers have more than 200 caps between them, McLeod said the team retained a seasoned core with double centurions Ryan Archibald and Phil Burrows set for the South American assignment.

Currently ranked eighth in the world, New Zealand are vying for promotion against Argentina, Belgium, Canada, China, India, Pakistan and South Africa.

- NZPA