New Zealand v Japan (women)
North Harbour Hockey Stadium, 1pm today
Black Sticks coach Mark Hager has again rung the changes for the five-test women's series against Japan starting at the North Harbour Hockey Stadium this afternoon.
The unavailability of Krystal Forgesson, Lucy Talbot and Gemma Flynn - back playing club hockey in Holland - and Katie Glynn, Ella Gunson and Emily Naylor being sidelined through injury has allowed Hager to hand North Harbour striker Petrea Webster, 22, Auckland defender Danielle Jones, 19, and Canterbury midfielder Bridget Blackwood, 19, their first chance at this level.
Glynn and Gunson might see some action later in the series, but the absences mean Hager doesn't have a wealth of experience to call on with only Kayla Sharland (120), Charlotte Harrison (104) and Clarissa Eshuis (77) with more than 50 caps. Stacey Michelsen and Anita Punt might reach that number during the series.
There will also be interest in the return of Alana Millington, Sophie Devine, Jan Burrows and Samantha Charlton to the national side after playing for New Zealand A in recent matches against Korea.
"Traditionally we've struggled against Japan even though they're ranked two places below us," Hager said. "They have a high work ethic and are at you the whole time.
"We must match that intensity and use our interchange effectively."
Hager said the rolling substitutions would start quickly as he rotated players eight minutes on/four minutes off, with only defensive linchpin Eshuis and goalkeeper likely to play 70 minutes.
Japan, too, are in a rebuilding phase, although they have three players with 150 or more caps - captain Rika Komazawa and Yukari Yamamoto on 172 and Miyuki Nakagawa on 150.
Immediately after these five tests, Hager will name 18 or 19 players for the home series against world No 1 Argentina, and in April the team for the Champions Trophy and the lead-up European tour in June will be selected.
* The men's hockey team are a big step closer to the 2012 London Olympics, after the International Hockey Federation confirmed Oceania will have two spots in the 12-team tournament. The top two teams from the Oceania tournament this year will now have direct Olympic entry.
