Hockey: Team confident of turning the tables

By TERRY MADDAFORD

Darren Smith and Paul Woolford will be looking for big games when New Zealand meet Australia in Wellington this afternoon.

The second test of the Oceania Cup/Olympic qualifying series will be Smith's 150th international. Woolford will earn his 50th cap.

Smith is especially keen to break a run of outs in milestone matches.

His first, against Spain in Malaysia in 1995, his 50th, against Australia in Sydney, and his 100th against India in Auckland were all as a member of a losing team.

"I hope we can change that this time," Smith said. "It couldn't come at a better time."

Woolford has needed time to reach 50 after playing as understudy to Scott Anderson and then sharing the goalkeeping duties with Michael Bevin and, more recently, Kyle Pontifex.

Captain Simon Towns is confident his team can turn things around after the first-up 4-3 loss to Australia in Christchurch on Wednesday night.

"That game was relatively even," Towns said. "When we looked at it, it was easy to see where we we wrong. They had only four shots in the first half and scored four goals.

"I don't think the mistakes that led to two of their goals will happen again.

"We still gave them opportunities in the second half, but defended well enough to deny them."

New Zealand are almost certain to go with the same starting line-up, with the only change on the bench, where David Kosoof will replace Gareth Brooks.

Towns, who was unwell and missed most of the second half in Christchurch, is confident he will play a more influential role today and allow his father, and coach, Kevin, to rotate Ryan Archibald, Smith, Mitesh Patel and himself in the midfield.

Much of the practice sessions on Thursday and again yesterday focused on the hitting and sweeping of long balls from the defence to the wing halves and midfield.

Australia's win has given them a giant step towards qualifying for Athens.

In running them so close - their best effort since a 1-1 draw in Melbourne more than two years ago - New Zealand have the confidence they can step up today and take the series to tomorrow's decider, which will also be played in Wellington.