Hockey: Prize is a trip to Athens

By DAVID LEGGAT

Ian Rutledge isn't about to make a song and dance about it, but there is an unmistakable quiet confidence that the Black Sticks are on track to qualify for the Athens Olympics.

The final push starts at Lloyd Elsmore Park today, with New Zealand, world No 9, playing Britain, the tournament's top-ranked side at No 5.

New Zealand have had a five-week camp in Christchurch, plus a series against Japan - won 3-1 - and a clutch of lead-up games where the emphasis was on quality of performance rather than results.

Putting all the evidence in front of him, Australian Rutledge likes what he sees.

"I'm quite confident of our preparation and where we're at," he said. "The only thing we're missing is the start of the tournament, which will give us a true measure of how good our preparation was. But I'm very confident we've covered all aspects."

The Black Sticks had Don Tricker, coach of the world championship-winning Black Sox, talk to them about what it meant to be contesting an event on home soil.

The Black Sox won their third successive title in Christchurch this year.

Rutledge said playing at home only became a problem if the players' focus was not right. The trick was to make it work for his team.

Rutledge won't name his starting XI until shortly before the start against Britain, but is likely to have told his team last night.

Two of the 18-strong squad sit the game out, but with unlimited interchange it's likely there will be plenty of game time for those on the bench.

Rutledge dismisses talk that the world rankings give an accurate pointer to relative prospects of the 10 teams at the tournament.

Five of the 10 will go to Athens. New Zealand are fifth highest-ranked. It won't be easy.

"All 10 come here with an even chance to qualify and I think you're going to see 10 very desperate teams wanting to get to Athens," Rutledge said.

He has been in the job 10 months. This is easily his biggest assignment and he's relishing the prospect.

The tournament kicks off with a pool B game in which Japan will be favoured to beat Russia this morning.

The Ukraine play Ireland in the first pool A game, world No 6 Korea meet Spain (No 7) in a heavyweight tussle, before the Black Sticks end the day against Britain.

The top two in each pool automatically go to Athens. Third and fourth play crossover playoff games next week to decide the fifth placegetter.

The Netherlands, Australia, Argentina, China and South Africa have already been confirmed in the Games competition.