Bevan Hari is looking to exorcise some demons tomorrow.
The self-confessed "old boy" of New Zealand men's hockey, who has notched up an impressive 181 caps for the Black Sticks, is hoping to level the score against old rivals the New Zealand Indians at Smallbone Park in Rotorua.
Hari is part of a "who's who" of top players selected for the New Zealand Maori men's team.
"All the guys know each other very well and I think it's fair to say there's quite a bit of rivalry there," said Hari.
"We've always enjoyed playing each other and from memory the games have been pretty close and generally attract a big crowd."
The Indians have won two out of the three previous encounters, including their inaugural clash in Pukekohe in 1994 (4-3) and their last encounter in Wellington in 1998 (5-2).
Hari said he was confident of emulating the Maori team's 1996 2-1 victory and squaring the overall score in the first Indians and Maori game in almost 10 years.
"Hopefully we can win this time, we've got a great line up and an extremely high calibre of players many of whom are fit and extremely skilful," he said.
Hari, who is believed to be the only survivor from the inaugural clash, will be joined by members of the national development squad including Rotorua's Hoete Mitai-Ngatai; former long-serving Black Sticks Shaun Barnett and David Kasoof and several National Hockey League (NHL) players. Meanwhile Goalie Natana Waaka (Waiariki) will make his debut for the team after missing out on previous games due to other commitments.
Hari, a former Western Heights High School student, is also looking forward to playing his first game in Rotorua for 10 years.
The 32-year-old has spent much of the last decade based in Auckland and in 2003 suffered a nasty knee injury that forced the talented and experienced striker to miss the 2004 Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Madrid.
After rebuilding his strength Hari was able to play at the Athens Olympics, before spending the last two years based in Wales playing and coaching Cardiff, who were crowned Welsh Champions 2004-2006 and European qualifiers 2005-2006.
"I learnt a whole lot of things playing in Europe - and noticed differences in their play to New Zealand. For example, they don't train as much physically as we do, but they put more effort into their strategies and tactics in to the game."
After tomorrow's game, which is being run in conjunction with the New Zealand Indians Under-21 tournament, Hari will decide whether to return to Cardiff for another season or stay in New Zealand and look ahead to beginning teachers' college next semester.
* The New Zealand Indian Men's Hockey team vs the New Zealand Maori Men's begins at 12pm tomorrow at Smallbone Park Rotorua. Everyone is welcome.
* New Zealand Maori team: Joshua Rapana (Taitokerau), Shaun Barnett, David Kosoof, Bevin Hari, Troy Hari, Michael Hari, Brett Leaver (Tamaki Makaurau), Clayton Pohio, Jarrod Wrigley, Scott Barnett, Sam Miskimmin, Jason Hilton, Hanoa Morete, Tane Apanui, Bryan Winiata (Waikato / Maniapoto), Tenga Rangitauira, Natana Waaka, Hoete Mitai-Ngatai, Owen Wells (Waiariki), Marcus Emery (Takitimu).
Coach: Mark Kake (Tamaki Makaurau); Manager: Scott Woolf (Waikato/ Maniapoto).
New Zealand Indians team: Pritesh Parsotam (Dunedin) Sanjay Ganda, Rajeev Menon, Shashil Govind (Christchurch) Nermash Ramji, Vijay Soma (Wellington) Sandeep Puna (Waikato) Hitesh Daya (Pukekohe) Rakesh Ranchhod, Sanjay Patel, Rakesh Parsotam, Jaydep Keshaw, Dharmesh Puna (Auckland) Raynesh Smith, Priyesh Bhana (North Harbour).
Coach: Manoj Daji (Auckland), Manager: Manoj Parbhu (Wellington).
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