Hockey: Coach says it's time for young hockey players to step up

National team coach Mark Hager. Photo / Natalie Slade

New Zealand's seven-game Asian tour is effectively an Olympic trial.

National team coach Mark Hager has made it plain spots in the squad for London are available. Stand up and show your best form in the three internationals against China (world No 5) in Beijing and four against South Korea (No 8) and you'll boost your chances, is his message.

"We're not 100 per cent sure on who's to going fill some roles," former star Australian player Hager said. "People will be given an opportunity to prove they can take hold of those positions.

"This travelling group is fairly close to what could be our Olympic team. Selection is far from game over for those left out and there's certainly no guarantee that 16 from this 20 will make up the team for London."

One of those out, Auckland's Lucy Talbot, will have her fingers crossed, if not her thumbs. She fractured a thumb in training, ruling her out of the tour, and will be reassessed nearer selection time next month.

Hager, who has named 20 players - two more than usual - is also clear on what he wants out of this trip. Consistency has been a concern for the world No 6-ranked Black Sticks. That has to be sorted out before London.

"Our defence is one area we're trying to improve this year, and it's slowly getting better," Hager said. "And our set piece is an area I'd really like to improve. We haven't quite gelled."

The leading hockey players get more international experience in a year than most other athletes.

The women's Black Sticks average about 30 matches a year. In Hager's book it's not until players have racked up about 50 internationals - which can be accrued in roughly 18 months - that a valid assessment can be made on whether they will really press on at the highest level.

"We are such a young group. That's the biggest issue. Most of our players have had over 50 caps and do need to start becoming consistent.

The Olympic squad, plus two travelling reserves who will stay outside the Games village, will be named shortly after the Black Sticks return from Korea on June 9.

* The No 7-ranked men's Black Sticks, battling a bug plaguing several players in the squad, still kicked off their Azlan Shah tournament in Malaysia with a thumping 5-1 win over India yesterday.

Their second game was against ninth-ranked Argentina early today.

NZ team for Asian tour

Kayla Sharland, Emily Naylor, Melody Cooper (Central), Krystal Forgesson, Katie Glynn, Julia King, Samantha Harrison (Auckland), Petrea Webster, Rhiannon Dennison, Biana Russell, Stacey Michelson (North Harbour), Sally Rutherford, Samanthan Charlton, Clarissa Eshuis, Cathryn Finlayson, Gemma Flynn (Midlands), Ella Gunson, Charlotte Harrison (Northland), Anita Punt (Capital), Bridget Blackwood (Canterbury).