Hockey: Black Sticks rate their chances

Christchurch-based Honor Dillon has been developing into a quality goalscorer. Picture / Herald On Sunday

A seam of confidence is running through the Black Sticks as they prepare for the opening match of their World Cup qualifying series against Australia in Auckland tomorrow.

The numbers are all on Australia's side. Since 2000, there have been 23 transtasman internationals with New Zealand enjoying a win in Sydney 2000 and drawing their clash in New Delhi this month. But other than that, it's been one-way traffic, albeit with tight one-goal contests on several occasions.

Black Sticks coach Ian Rutledge insists his squad are in with a good chance of advancing to the tournament in Madrid in September.

"I am very confident. I have a full appreciation for the hard work the players have put in and I've no doubt they'll be ready on Sunday."

The squad have been together in Whangarei for the past week and the focus has been on getting their own game right rather than worrying too much about the Hockeyroos threat.

"If you focus too much on the opposition what you're already admitting to is preparing for defeat, or to minimise the damage.

"We've got a reasonably-talented bunch of players who are steadily improving, making progress in all the right areas.

"We need to get our own performance down pat, and if we do that we've got every chance of winning."

Even if the Black Sticks win tomorrow there are still two matches in Sydney next week.

But as Rutledge puts it, victory tomorrow will "buy a little space".

New Zealand won the Champions Challenge tournament in the United States in July.

It was their first title for six years and even if the opposition tomorrow are significantly better than that at Virginia Beach, success has a way of instilling fresh belief.

Up front, Honor Dillon is developing into a quality goalscorer and plenty of work has been put into the penalty corner setup, where Niniwa Roberts-Lang, Lizzy Igasan and Kayla Sharland, all experienced players armed with strong shots, are keys to the Black Sticks' chances.

Australia can point to winning the Indira Gandhi tournament in New Delhi this month to suggest they're in good shape. Coach Frank Murray has made some changes for this series and neither side will be finalised until tomorrow.

He's got plenty of experience, with midfielder Karen Smith and striker Nikki Hudson both boasting more than 200 caps.

"We always expect a real contest against New Zealand," he said. "They are continually improving, and on any given day anyone in that top six could beat the other."

Rutledge pays little heed to history, but the weight of results demand Australia will start favourites to win the series.

Australia are ranked fourth in the world, New Zealand sixth. If the situation is all square after next Saturday's third match, goal difference will be the first tie-breaker, followed by golden goal extra time of 15 minutes then, if needed, penalty strokes.

The loser will still have a strong chance to get to Madrid, but will need to go through a qualifying tournament in April-May in Italy.

* The women's Olympic tournament in Beijing in 2008 has been expanded from 10 to 12 teams. The men's tournament has comprised 12 teams since 1988.

THE TEAMS

New Zealand v Australia Lloyd Elsmore Park, 1.15pm tomorrow

New Zealand: Suzie Muirhead (c), Beth Jurgeleit, Niniwa Roberts-Lang (all Wellington), Anita Wawatai, Emily Naylor, Caryn Paewai, Kayla Sharland, Moira Senior (Central), Lizzy Igasan (North Harbour), Clarissa Eshuis, Meredith Orr, Stacey Carr, Michelle Hollands, Honor Dillon (Canterbury), Di Weavers (Midlands), Frances Kreft, Krystal Forgesson (Auckland), Charlotte Harrison (Northland).

Australia: Wendy Alcorn, Madonna Blyth, Suzie Faulkner, Nikki Hudson, Emma Meyer, Angie Skirving, Karen Smith (all Queensland), Nicole Arrold (ACT), Toni Cronk, Kate Hollywood, Megan Rivers, Rebecca Sanders, Melanie Twitt (New South Wales), Emily Halliday, Kobie McGurk, Kim Walker (WA), Rachel Imison (Victoria), Donna-Lee Patrick (South Australia).