Hockey: Black Sticks call in Aussie nous for Cup lead-in

The national men's hockey team have followed the Black Sticks women in calling on Australian expertise to hone their preparations for next week's crucial World Cup qualifying tournament in Invercargill.

Former Australian under-21 international Sean Dancer, these days employed by Wellington Hockey as their development officer and who coached their women's team at September's National Hockey league, has been enlisted to join Darren Smith as an assistant coach under Shane McLeod for the Cup qualifier.

Dancer is no stranger to McLeod.

They played together at North Harbour in the 1990s and more recently coached in Belgium.

McLeod will be hoping Australian nous will be as successful with his team as Mark Hager has been in guiding the women to their World Cup and next year's Champions Trophy.

"We are using Sean in an analytical role," said McLeod. "You can always learn from people like him. It is his first involvement with the team and we are grateful to have him on loan to us from Wellington Hockey for this series.

"He has taken a keen observation role within the coaching set-up."

On the playing front, McLeod yesterday named the 18 players from which he will name his 16 for the six games at the qualifying tournament.

In the biggest surprises, there is no room for long-serving defender James Nation while up front youngster Hugo Inglis has been handed his chance after some strong showings for the Junior Black Sticks.

Inglis, the leading goalscorer at the NHL, impressed McLeod at the Junior World Cup and in the NHL and clinched his selection with some outstanding play in last week's three matches between the national side and the Junior Black Sticks.

"He got better and better at the Junior World Cup," said McLeod. "He carried that form through the NHL and in the three matches involving the two New Zealand sides he did not have a bad game."

McLeod has named what promises to be an exciting attacking quartet including rising stars Simon Child, Nick Wilson, Inglis and veteran Phil Burrows who will captain the side.

The biggest concern is the fitness of key midfielder/defender and drag flick expert Hayden Shaw, hospitalised recently with a bout of pneumonia.

"Hayden will join us in Invercargill tomorrow and we will continue to monitor his progress," said McLeod yesterday.

Former international Nick Haig will join the squad in the deep south ready to step in if Shaw is not fit to play. In that case the drag flick responsibilities at penalty corners will be shared by Andy Hayward and Richard Petherick.

New Zealand are the highest-ranked team at the tournament and are expected to play China in the November 15 final, with the winner claiming a place in next year's World Cup in India.