Hockey: Sights on 2008 hosting rights

Keen to turn around what has at times been a disappointing year for the Black Sticks, Hockey New Zealand is chasing hosting rights for the next Olympic qualifying tournaments.

Heartened by their efforts and the response from the governing body following the 2004 women's qualifying tournament at Lloyd Elsmore Park, the national association has applied to host the men and the women in 2008.

"We are more likely to get the men but would like the opportunity to host both," said HNZ chief executive Ramesh Patel yesterday. "We have put forward North Harbour as the likely venue but this is not set in concrete as other associations have indicated they would be interested."

Although more immediate attention is focused on this week's national league final in Wellington - the last round-robin matches will be played today (women) and tomorrow (men) - Patel says there is much more being done behind the scenes.

"We hope to name the new national women's coach in the next few days."

He confirmed eight or nine applications had come in for Ian Rutledge's old job with a 50-50 split between New Zealand and overseas applicants.

"By the end of the month we will name our men's and women's national and development squads as we look to lift our world rankings."

A busy 2006 will be followed by an equally busy schedule next year, culminating in the Oceania Olympic qualifiers in early September, with both teams trying to take the short route to Beijing.

Both national sides will play their respective Champions Challenge tournaments in June in Azerbaijan (women) and Belgium (men).

In preparation for those tournaments, the men will play the Dutch in three home tests - two in Auckland, one in Tauranga - in January and the women will play four or five tests against Australia at home in May.

The Indian women's team are also looking for a four-test tour in August.

The men are also likely to receive another invitation to the annual Sultan Azlan Shah tournament in Malaysia in July-August.

The NHL is again scheduled for September-October next year, which could lead to an overlap with the Oceania qualifiers, which might be hosted by Fiji.

More immediate are tonight's games in which the top five women's teams will chase the four spots for Friday's semifinals, with Auckland needing to upset Central to assure themselves of progressing.

If Auckland lose and North Harbour beat Southern in the early game, Harbour will go through and likely join Midlands, Canterbury and Central in the semifinals.

Tomorrow's matches will sort out the finishing order of the top four men's teams - North Harbour, Canterbury, Auckland and Wellington.