Hockey: Now for the second prize

By DAVID LEGGAT

The Black Sticks will, in one important sense, begin their countdown for the Olympic women's tournament today.

Having secured their spot in Athens on Wednesday night, they are now chasing the second part of the deal - winning the qualifying event at Lloyd Elsmore Park, and in the process simulate the demands of finals hockey.

World No 9 New Zealand play Spain, ranked two places higher, this afternoon, with the winner progressing to Sunday's final.

The loser plays off for third and fourth against the loser of today's late game, Japan or Germany.

But coach Ian Rutledge wants the Black Sticks to imagine these matches as part of the Olympic programme and use the associated intensity of sudden-death play.

"We've got to make sure we're treating them as preparation for semifinal and finals hockey," he said, hoping the pressures of sudden-death competition over the next two games will add to their hockey knowledge ahead of Athens.

New Zealand last played Spain in the Champion's Challenge at Catania in July last year, losing 1-0.

However, what they learned on that occasion, plus what they've seen of the Spaniards in Auckland - a 5-3 goals for and against record, suggesting limited firepower but an uncompromising defence - gives them confidence.

The other key game today is the showdown between world No 5 Great Britain and world No 6 Korea. One of them will bow out of contention today, while the winner will stay alive to play either Ireland or the United States tomorrow afternoon. The winner of that game will clinch the 10th and final spot for Athens.