KEY POINTS:
Hayden Shaw gets the chance to join hockey's "100 club" with his inclusion in the New Zealand team to play this month's Champions Challenge tournament in Belgium.
Shaw, who returned to the Black Sticks last year after trying his luck with the Canterbury cricket team, heads away on June 10 with 97 caps.
As the defensive mainstay and drag flick expert, he will comfortably play his 100th international at the six-team tournament that starts on June 23.
He will join veteran striker Bevan Hari (181 caps), captain Ryan Archibald (172), Phil Burrows (153), Blair Hopping (140), Dean Couzins (114) and goalkeeper Paul Woolford (104) as players in the squad to have played 100 internationals.
At the other end of the scale, North Harbour midfielder Steven Edwards gets his chance for the first time in being named as the only newcomer in the 18-man squad.
The most pressing concern for coach Shane McLeod is finding a successor to now-retired Simon Towns in the pivotal centre-half role.
In recent matches Archibald, a specialist inside-forward, and Hopping, better suited to a wing-half or fullback, have played at centre-half, but McLeod is now looking to Casey Henwood, who has been in and out of the national side, and youngster Nick Haig, who debuted against Germany as a defender, as possibilities in the key position.
McLeod has named Burrows for the tournament but admits he may see little playing time as he continues his recovery from a serious hamstring injury. "Phil will travel anyway," said McLeod. "We want him to be involved."
Dave Kosoof has been recalled and appears to be over his knee injury and gets the chance to add to his 90 caps.
Striker Jan Peterson, who impressed in the German series, is unavailable through work/study commitments.
The squad
Ryan Archibald, Simon Child, Dean Couzins, Bevan Hari, Paul Woolford (Auckland), Nick Haig, Brad Shaw, Hayden Shaw (Canterbury), Casey Henwood (Midlands), Ben Collier, Bryce Collins, Steven Edwards, Blair Hopping, Dave Kosoof, Lloyd Stephenson (North Harbour), Phil Burrows, Kyle Pontifex, James Nation (Wellington).
