KEY POINTS:
New Zealand will have to reverse the result of the Champions Challenge final if they are to grab one of the last three spots in next year's Olympic men's hockey tournament in Beijing.
A change in the ranking means Argentina not India will be ranked first at the
North Harbour-hosted tournament in February.
The South Americans, ranked seventh on the latest FIH list, are one place higher than India and three ahead of the Black Sticks.
In the final of the Champions Challenge tournament in Belgium this year, Argentina came from 0-2 with 10 minutes to play to take the final to sudden death extra time and win 3-2.
NZ coach Shane McLeod sees a rematch as the likely scenario in the final of the qualifying tournament at Crown Relocations Stadium and is confident his players can reverse January's result. But he is wary other teams are capable of upsetting the fancied countries.
"The last time we played France, in China last year at a World Cup qualifying tournament, we lost 4-2," said McLeod. "We haven't played Ireland for a while so they are a bit of an unknown. Of the others, Trinidad and Tobago are a team on the improve."
With the change in the make-up of his opposition, McLeod has revised his preparation plans and is now hoping for matches in late November against Spain, Germany and the Netherlands - all teams ranked in the top four.
"They are heading to either Malaysia or India for the Champions Trophy in early December so I hope we can play them - possibly in Malaysia," said McLeod. "Once the NHL is over we will start preparing.
"All the players will be on a conditioning programme and from November 9 they will be centralised at North Harbour."
South Korea are keen to play New Zealand as part of their build-up to the Champions Trophy. They have sought games here between October 22-November 7 but McLeod is asking they be put back until November 9-23.
"Beyond that, we already have a series against Japan here confirmed for January," said McLeod.
"We want to continue playing teams ranked higher rather than lower than us."
The NZ women have confirmed their place in the Olympics.
