Hockey: Fresh Harrison set to fire

As the Black Sticks prepare for their first game of the four nations event in Whangarei tonight, Charlotte Harrison is particularly grateful to be playing on home turf.

The 23-year-old is seeing Northland sunshine for the first time since Christmas, after moving to the Netherlands to play for Braxgata in Belgium.

A couple of months ago, Harrison opted out of national selection, saying she needed some time away from the game to refresh and rejuvenate her passion for it. And, it has obviously worked.

"I feel like I am refreshed and ready to get back into it," said Harrison. "And, it's quite a treat we're playing in my home town, so I'm really looking forward to the Whangarei crowds."

Harrison said her time in Europe had been enjoyable and she looked forward to enjoying some sunshine in the drought-stricken region before tackling Korea tonight at 7.30.

"It's been awesome [being back in Whangarei], even just having some sunshine," Harrison said and laughed.

"It's really nice seeing my family again and I didn't go on the last tour with the Black Sticks, so it has been really nice seeing my team-mates again."

Harrison said this week's tournament, in which the Black Sticks take on Argentina (ranked No2), and Korea (8), the United States (10), was going to be exciting.

The rare opportunity to play in front of her hometown crowd had her pumped.

"It's going to be good seeing some family and heaps of my friends are coming up [to watch the hockey], and some sponsors as well," she said.

Harrison and other Black Stick members spent time signing autographs at Kamo Primary School yesterday afternoon, in advance of tonight's tournament start.

Fellow Northlander Stacey Michelsen joins Harrison in the New Zealand squad for this week's tournament.

Though not taking part in the tournament, a third Northlander, Brooke Neal, was recently promoted to the national squad.

Neal is training with the squad and hopes to break into the Black Sticks' starting line-up.

Harrison's sister, Sam, remains unavailable for selection for the Black Sticks but is expected to come back into contention in the not too distant future.

SCHEDULE

Today: Argentina v US, 5.30pm; NZ v Korea, 7.30pm.

Tomorrow: Korea v US, 5.30pm; NZ v Argentina, 7.30pm.

Saturday: Argentina v Korea, 1pm; NZ v US, 3pm.

Sunday: 3rd v 4th playoff, 1pm; 1st v 2nd playoff, 3.30pm.