KEY POINTS:
Lloyd Stephenson's yo-yo international career is set to go back on hold.
Black Sticks coach Shane McLeod will today name his 18-man squad for next month's Olympic Qualifying Tournament.
And Midland's Stephenson, 26, who has been hampered by injury recently, is likely to find himself back on the
sideline.
McLeod has used 19 players in the series against Chile and Japan which ended in Mt Maunganui last night but must trim that by one for the qualifiers which start on the North Shore on February 2.
Hayden Shaw scored his 99th goal for the Black Sticks in their 2-1 win over Japan in the fourth and final test last night but later in the game muffed a second penalty corner attempt to miss out on his milestone 100th.
Shaw gave the home side their 1-0 halftime lead with his early strike.
The visitors did not equalise until well into the second half when Takahiko Yamabori scored from a penalty corner deflection.
Simon Child continued his rich vein of goal-scoring form by snatching the winner within a couple of minutes.
The victory completed a 4-0 sweep for the higher-ranked New Zealanders.
The final choice for the qualifying tournament squad is between midfielders Stephenson, who has played over 60 times for New Zealand, and Shea McAleese, 23, who has played more than 50 games for his country.
Both players have been hit by injury recently, with Stephenson battling a knee problem and McAleese troubled by a shoulder injury.
With just six defensive players and five attackers in his squad, McLeod was loathe to make cuts in those positions especially given slight injury concerns with strikers Phil Burrows and Gareth Brooks.
On a more positive note, key defender Blair Hopping is close to full fitness again and looks ready to play a key role in the must-win six-nation tournament from which only the winner will advance to the Olympics later this year.
Stephenson's former North Harbour team-mate Steve Edwards appears to have played his way into the regular starting Xl at centre-half.
Edwards, 21 and already with 20-plus tests, is touted as the much-needed replacement for the retired Simon Towns in that pivotal role.
Edwards is likely to play between brothers Hayden and Brad Shaw in the half-line, with Hopping joined by Dean Couzins as fullbacks.
In goal it appears McLeod has no qualms in naming either Paul Woolford or Kyle Pontifex.
He will go into the matches at the qualifying tournament with just one goalkeeper to ensure he has available a maximum 15 outfield players.
Captain Ryan Archibald will lead the team from his usual inside-forward role.
He will be joined by North Harbour's Ben Collier who, at 23, already has more than 50 internationals behind him.
Collier has had more game time following the enforced injury break needed by Bruce Collins and has shown steady improvement.
The forwards will be rotated with Bevan Hari, Burrows, Brooks, Dave Kosoof and Simon Child sharing those duties. The 18 players have now been given a short but welcome break and will be back in camp on Sunday for final preparations.
LIKELY SQUAD
Paul Woolford, Kyle Pontifex, Blair Hopping, Dean Couzins, Andy Hayward, James Nation, Brad Shaw, Casey Henwood, Steve Edwards, Hayden Shaw, Ryan Archibald, Ben Collier, Shea McAleese, Bevan Hari, Phil Burrows, Gareth Brooks, Dave Kosoof, Simon Child.