Manawatu midfielder Melody Rowe has been given another chance to make the Black Sticks team for the Athens Olympics after being named in the 19-strong hockey squad to meet India next month.
Rowe, 21, missed out on the squad of 18 that competed in last month's Olympic qualifying tournament in Auckland
where New Zealand finished third and qualified for the 2004 Olympics.
All 18 players from the tournament have been retained for the Indian series.
The Black Sticks play India in Dunedin on Tuesday May 4, in Oamaru the following night, while Christchurch hosts the final test on Sunday May 9.
Coach Ian Rutledge rates the Indians highly as the Black Sticks begin their Olympic build-up.
"They are fantastic opponents and one of the better sides in the world, but because they are not in the Olympics, we can play quite freely against them," he said.
India are currently ranked 12th in the world, and won Gold at the 2002 Commonwealth Games.
Black Sticks squad to meet India: Helen Clarke, Meredith Orr, Karen Syddall, Lisa Walton (Auckland), Stacey Carr, Rachel Robertson, Diana Weavers (Canterbury), Tara Drysdale, Emily Naylor, Melody Rowe, Kayla Sharland, Rachel Sutherland (Manawatu), Lizzy Igasan, Leisen Jobe, Jaimee Provan (North Harbour), Beth Jurgeleit, Caryn Paewai, Suzie Muirhead (captain), Niniwa Roberts-Lang (Wellington).
- NZPA
