KEY POINTS:
Kevin Towns has no problem mixing with the enemy.
As national women's coach he is about to put out a new-look side against the old foe from across the Tasman in a four-test series which starts tomorrow week.
But, aren't the Australians the team the Black Sticks need to beat later this year to win the Oceania Championship and with that automatic entry to next year's Beijing Olympics?
"Yes, to a point," admits Towns. "But for me I had to find someone who we could use as a benchmark to find where our women are at. This is an opportunity to play a team that is as good as any in the world."
Towns also points out that Oceania have two Olympic spots available with New Zealand, Australia and the winner from next month's South Pacific Games - likely to be Fiji or Samoa - set to meet in the Oceania qualifier scheduled, along with the men's qualifier, for September 10-16 on Queensland's Sunshine Coast.
But Towns does not see that as a free ticket to the Olympics.
"We still have to perform," he said.
Days after the tests against Australia, the Black Sticks leave for the Champions Challenge tournament in Azerbaijan from June 9-17 and the chance to qualify for the Champions Trophy in July next year.
While it has yet to be confirmed, Towns is planning to take the team to Asia in August to play Japan, Korea, India and China, countries who will play the 6th Asian Cup in Hong Kong from August 27.
"That would give us an ideal buildup in similar conditions to those we are expecting in Australia for the Oceania qualifiers," said Towns. "I would expect if we get those games we will take the same 18 players to both."
He has also planned a four-test home series against a yet-to-be-confirmed nation in February.
Just back from an inspection tour of Olympic sites and facilities in Beijing, Towns said he had no problems with the turfs, saying they would be fine, with the 15,000-seat stadium similar to that used in Athens three years ago.
"The turfs aren't laid yet but things are about 80 per cent finished," he said. "They are confident they will be ready for a planned three-nation tournament in August."
