"This weekend is about the players demonstrating more consistency," said McLeod.
"In Wellington, some showed they were not up to the standard required internationally. There was too much turnover ball. In the second test they turned it over 39 times which is a lot against a team whose game is very much based on counter-attacking.
"And, when we did breach the Indians defence, we were not productive enough in the next move. Our midfield was not as dominant as we wanted."
But, as McLeod pointed out, three key players in that area, Ryan Archibald, Shea McAleese and Ben Collier are missing this series.
"We wanted to use these matches to see where the next generation is."
With Steve Edwards sidelined after injuring a shoulder early in Thursday's New Zealand A game against the Indians, Casey Henwood will start in the pivotal centre-half position this afternoon. Nick Haig, back in the Black Sticks, is also likely to get time in that midfield role.
McLeod is happy with Edwards' progress. "He is doing well and showing he is up to it internationally. His game is definitely growing."
To keep the series alive, the Black Sticks must win today.
That will not be easy against an Indian team preparing for next month's Asian Games and have had recent match play in Argentina, their own Punjab Gold Cup and in Australia.
Early next week McLeod will name the 18 players he will take to April's Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in Epoh, Malaysia. While he will again be without Archibald and will also have Phil Burrows, Simon Child and Hayden and Brad Shaw unavailable, McLeod hopes Collier will return along with already-named captain Blair Hopping and his defensive partner Dean Couzins.
The Indians series is the first being played at home following the signing of a four-year apparel sponsorship deal with Lotto Sports.
