KEY POINTS:
Hayden Shaw celebrated his selection as the only New Zealander in the world All Star team in style with a double strike in the Black Sticks' 3-1 victory over England - a win which took them three points clear at the top of the Champions Challenge in Belgium.
Shaw, the top scorer at the tournament, was at his sizzling best in scoring twice and winning the penalty stroke which Dean Couzins converted to ensure New Zealand retained their perfect three-from-three record and almost certainly guaranteed their place in Sunday's final.
A point from their remaining games - against the hosts tomorrow morning (NZ time) and Argentina on Saturday - would book New Zealand's place in the final and, with it, the chance to win through to the next Champions Trophy.
In another key game tomorrow, Argentina meet India - the teams locked in second place - with the winner likely to win through to the final.
New Zealand coach Shane McLeod, while reluctant to presume his team will win a place in the big show, would prefer to play India in the tournament decider.
"Argentina and India are two completely different teams and my preference would definitely be to play India," said McLeod.
"I had thought Argentina would have been the team to beat here but they don't appear fit. They play a much more physical game than India."
While some reports suggested New Zealand were lucky to beat England, McLeod was not buying into that.
"It was a relatively even game and, in the end, set pieces separated the two teams," said McLeod. "I was happy with the way we played."
He singled out captain Ryan Archibald as the most influential player in the game.
"He had a good game," said McLeod.
"Ryan has had a good tournament. He has been timing his efforts splendidly."
It was a superb dribbling run from Archibald which won New Zealand's second penalty corner which Shaw converted for a 2-1 lead.
Earlier, Shaw had fired low and hard to give New Zealand their 11th-minute lead after good play from Bryce Collins had won the first penalty corner of the match.
The Black Sticks took that 1-0 lead to the break and held it until Rob Moore equalised eight minutes into the second half when the New Zealand defence failed to clear a penalty corner. It was the first goal conceded by the table-toppers at the tournament.
Shaw then dragged high into the English goal to regain the lead. Couzins' stroke eight minutes from time settled it and left New Zealand with the best attacking and defensive records.
Bevan Hari will be rested from the next two games as he struggles with a hamstring injury.
Goalkeepers Kyle Pontifex and Paul Woolford will continue their rotation policy with Woolford to play tomorrow and Pontifex against Argentina.
Youngsters Andy Haywood and Nick Haig have yet to see any match action but are likely to be included tomorrow and again on Saturday with McLeod likely to opt to go into both matches with no goalkeeping cover.
