KEY POINTS:
New Zealand will be asked to go flat out when they play Germany and Spain on their European tour this week.
The Black Sticks open their pre-Olympics build-up in Cologne with back to back games against Germany tomorrow and Thursday followed by Spain in the Netherlands on Monday.
World No 1 Germany and Spain are in New Zealand's pool for the Olympics and New Zealand team manager Kevin Marr said the team would be collecting data from these matches. "We want to see how they respond to us," he said.
New Zealand would need to push Spain and Germany to produce their top games "because if we don't, we won't get the information we require".
New Zealand will also play Britain, Belgium, Canada and Argentina to "revisit our selection thoughts", Marr said. Skipper Ryan Archibald has recovered from an 11th-hour shoulder injury to lead the side.
Under most scrutiny will be the forwards. Coach Shane McLeod has taken six strikers to Europe for a final trial including veteran Bevan Hari (200 caps) as well as 17-year-old Nick Wilson. The others are David Kosoof, Simon Child, Phil Burrows and Gareth Brooks.
- NZPA
