Wanganui hockey export Martin Atkinson has a long haul without matchplay until his tour of Australia with the New Zealand Futures Under 23 squad.
The squad leaves for a five test series against Australia on November 17 and Atkinson's final hitout was at the weekend in a New Zealand A side formed to provide India warm-up matches ahead of a clash with the Black Sticks.
"We played two matches over the weekend losing 3-1 and 2-1," Atkinson said.
"The matches were pretty much to help the Indians acclimatise. I was suffering a bit of a flu virus but I'm pretty happy with my performance. I think I held my own."
The New Zealand A side, he said, was filled with possible future Black Sticks and top younger players with big futures.