A three-way home series involving China and Ireland represents another important step in the New Zealand women's team's path towards the Olympics in August.
The women's team has been training in Auckland for two months, and lost a recent five-match series against Korea.
Coach Kevin Towns believed his
side was sharper for the experience against Korea and had specific areas he wanted his players to work on in their upcoming five matches in Wellington, starting against China today.
"I want to see more opportunities created from our attacking 25 into the circle," he said.
At the other end of the field, Towns said too many unforced errors were resulting in goals and he wanted to see the error rate reduced.
Towns expected world No 5 China to be particularly torrid on attack and was looking to his midfield to deny the Chinese the chance to create too many opportunities.
The 2007 Champions Challenge winners, China have already qualified for the Beijing Olympics as hosts.
Ireland are in a different situation as they are building up to the last of three Olympic Qualifying Tournaments, to be held in Canada in late April.
The Black Sticks qualified for the Olympics last November when they won the Oceania Cup.
Towns is taking 17 players into the series.
The significant omission being Northlander Jasmin McQuinn, who injured her knee during the Korea series and is to undergo surgery in a bid to be fit for Beijing.
After the six-match Wellington series, the Black Sticks have just five days before heading to China for another five-match series against the Chinese.
Training camps will follow before another trip to Asia for what is likely to be a Four Nation tournament in Hong Kong in July.
NZ SQUAD
Kayla Sharland, Emily Naylor, Krystal Forgesson, Kate Saunders, Meredith Orr, Jaimee Claxton, Lizzy Igasan, Stacey Carr, Jo Galletly, Kim Noakes, Beth Jurgeleit, Caryn Paewai, Niniwa Roberts, Gemma Flynn, Tara Drysdale, Anita Wawatai, Charlotte Harrison
* Schedule
(all games in Wellington):
Feb 23: NZ v China
Feb 24: NZ v China
Feb 26: China v Ireland
Feb 27: NZ v Ireland
Feb 28: NZ v China
Feb 29: China v Ireland
March 1: NZ v Ireland
- NZPA
