Tina Bell-Kake has an early opportunity to celebrate her Olympic selection with a return to almost full-on action in this afternoon's national hockey league.
Out of action for all but the last 10 minutes of last week's final round-robin game against Wellington, Bell-Kake will not be in the run-onteam for the Lion Foundation League final against arch-rivals Canterbury, but she is assured of some action in the game at Lloyd Elsmore Park.
"We use every player in every game," said Auckland co-coach Simon Norton. "Tina was keen to play more of last week's game but we want to ease her back in after having a knee cartilage trimmed two or three weeks ago."
Norton is not taking too much notice of either Auckland's 4-2 round-robin win over Canterbury or their imposing record.
Canterbury have won eight of the last 10 national titles, including the last six. Their loss to Auckland two weeks ago halted a 25-match winning streak.
"Sooner or later someone has to beat them for the national title," said Norton. "But that is not our focus, just as our win over them last time was not important for the result, rather for the way it was achieved.
"That is the confidence our players should take into the final."
Norton is adamant Canterbury's New Zealand captain Anna Lawrence will not come in for special attention.
"With the way we rotate players - and all will see some first-half action - we don't look out for any particular player."
The women's playoff for third and fourth is a repeat of last year's battle between Manawatu and Wellington, won by Manawatu.
Newcomers Otago have the home advantage against North Harbour in the wooden spoon match, with the losers facing the promotion-relegation playoffs.
While most interest will centre on today's women's league action, there will be some attention on tomorrow's game in Hamilton where Midland Express will attempt to foil Auckland's bid for a place in next Saturday's men's final against North Harbour.
Auckland must take at least a point from the game to push Northland out of the final.
