KEY POINTS:
Victory against Japan tonight will wrap up the five-test series for the New Zealand men's hockey team.
The Black Sticks bounced back from a disappointing 2-2 draw in the second test to beat Japan 4-2 in the third of the three tests played in Gifu for a 2-0 series lead after winning 3-0 first-up.
The New Zealanders travelled to Oyabe yesterday, taking in a couple of hours of sightseeing along the way - but it will be back to business tonight.
They will take some heart from the win by the reshuffled team on Wednesday night after Tuesday's draw - a result that left coach Shane McLeod unhappy with what he saw as a below-par effort.
As they had managed in the earlier tests, New Zealand scored first when, seven minutes into the game, Ryan Archibald and Phil Burrows combined on the right before slipping the ball to James Nation, promoted to play at centre-half.
He found Simon Child, who provided the finish.
Within five minutes the home side levelled the scores when, from a counter-attack, they won a penalty corner that was quickly converted.
Eight minutes before halftime the Black Sticks scored the goal of the series.
Right half Hayden Shaw launched a cross-field overhead pass into the left pocket.
The ball eluded the defence and bounced kindly for Jan Peterson who, from shoulder height, swatted home from a tight angle.
That joy was short-lived, however, as the Japanese scrambled home from their fourth penalty corner for 2-2 at halftime.
With more possession, the Black Sticks took control in the second half and went ahead again when midfielder Ben Collier fired home a reverse stick shot.
A late Burrows goal, after a shot from Lloyd Stephenson that was saved but not cleared, completed the victory.
On the downside, the game was marred by a number of dubious tackles by both teams and constant challenging of umpire decisions which led to a period when the teams were reduced to 10 men.
The fifth test will be played in Oyabe tomorrow.
Meanwhile, North Harbour midfielder/defender Lizzy Igasan has been named to lead the national women's team for their Oceania Olympic qualifiers in Australia and the preceding matches against Korea, China and India.
