Hockey: Black Sticks ready for backlash

SYDNEY - New Zealand women's hockey coach Ian Rutledge is confident the Black Sticks have not let a rare victory over their transtasman rivals go to their heads as they strive to win on Australia soil for the first time in five years.

Victory in the second match of the three-test Oceania championships series tomorrow would book a direct passage to the 2006 World Cup.

On a high after inflicting a 1-0 defeat on the Commonwealth Games champions in Auckland on Sunday the squad got back to business yesterday at the Sydney Olympic Park test venue.

Rutledge said he could not detect any complacency in the ranks, understandable considering the Blacks Sticks have won only two of 24 matches against Australia stretching back to the 2000 Olympics.

"We'll find out Thursday but the girls are pretty much committed to the task," the Australian said.

"They have some belief in their ability and that's been reinforced by the result on Sunday but Australia will be hurt and hungry."

Although the squad appeared relaxed there is plenty riding on the outcome of the second leg, with a New Zealand win qualifying them directly for next September's World Cup in Spain without having to worry about a qualifying tournament in Italy next April.

Injuries will not complicate the selection process with Rutledge quipping: "There's nothing like winning to numb pain."

The third match of the series is in Sydney on Saturday.

- NZPA