KUALA LUMPUR: Paris Olympics-bound New Zealand will field a mixed squad of seniors and juniors for the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup (SAS Cup), which begins on Saturday in Ipoh.
The Black Sticks left out six regulars, including skipper Nicholas Woods, Kane Russell and Hugo Inglis, who could not join the squad for the tournament due to their commitments with European clubs.
However, world No. 10 New Zealand, who won the SAS Cup in 2012 and 2015, still have enough firepower to pose a serious threat to other teams in Ipoh.
The Kiwis, who arrived in Ipoh on Friday, will be led by Blair Tarrant, Malachi Buschl, Patrick Ward and Benji Culhane, while Luke Holmes, Jonty Elmes and Scott Cosslett are making their debuts.
New Zealand, who won the Olympic gold medal at the 1976 Montreal Games, are using the SAS Cup to fine-tune their game ahead of the Paris Olympics in July.
Coach Greg Nicol confirmed that six regulars have commitments with their clubs in Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands.
"Although we have arrived here with a mixed squad, we still have our objectives to achieve," said Nicol.
"I want my team to improve and build a winning habit in Ipoh.
New Zealand will play friendlies against world No. 13 Malaysia tomorrow and No. 19 Canada on Thursday to warm up for the SAS Cup.
The other teams in the fray are world No. 11 South Korea, No. 15 Pakistan and No. 16 Japan.
The squad: George Enersen, Dom Dixon, Benji Culhane, Charlie Morrison, Blair Tarrant, David Brydon, Dane Lett, Scott Cosslett, Malachi Buschl, Joe Morrison, Hayden Phillips, Isaac Houlbrooke, Patrick Ward, George Baker, Scott Boyde, Luke Holmes, Jake Smith, Jonty Elmes.
