Black Sticks coach ponders World Cup wish-list

All New Zealand men's hockey coach Shane McLeod wants for Christmas is a new left half.

However, rather than take a punt on what turns up under the tree, McLeod has highlighted the position as one of his priorities after today naming a squad of 21 for the World Cup in Delhi, India, next March.

All the players who contested -- and won -- the recent Champions Challenge have been included, with the North Harbour pair of Priyesh Bhana and David Green, and Wellington's Joel Baker (Wellington) additions to the squad.

McLeod is looking to fill the gap created by the loss of a trio of key experienced players -- defender James Nation, who has retired, and the Shaw brothers Brad and Hayden, both unavailable for the World Cup.

"We have to develop a natural left half," McLeod told NZPA today.

"With James Nation and Brad both not around, it's an area we're a little bit vulnerable in, so we're going to spend a lot of time in developing that position."

McLeod was also looking for his players to lift their game a notch on their Champions Challenge-winning form, which saw them down Pakistan 4-2 to win the final in Argentina last week.

"We're also making sure that we keep developing collectively with our forwards and so on. They've been playing extremely well but there's still probably another level they can go to," McLeod said.

To that end, a series of camps have been scheduled, beginning on January 6 in Tauranga.

"We're doing them in four-day blocks -- they come in and we hammer them with the hockey stuff for four days, then they're back in their region doing strength and conditioning for the other three days."

McLeod has a pleasing balance of youth and experience at his disposal, with competition intense among the squad for starting positions.

He has the luxury of a core of senior players including Ryan Archibald and Dean Couzins (Auckland), Phil Burrows (Wellington) and North Harbour's Blair Hopping, who have all played over 150 tests.

Their experience will provide invaluable leadership for developing players such as Stephen Graham, David Green and 18-year-old Midlands striker Hugo Inglis.

"It's quite a good balance -- there's been a core of players together for quite a while now that have built up a lot of internationals, and the players that are coming through are pretty talented young players," McLeod said.

There were also a couple of players sitting just outside the named squad that would have opportunities throughout the year to push their claims, he added.

"(Striker) Stephen Jenness is one from Wellington that I think is doing really well, but we hesitated because he just hasn't been involved up until this point in time with anything but the juniors. He's one that's sitting really close."

McLeod will select the final World Cup team of 18 on January 31.

The squad is: Ryan Archibald, Priyesh Bhana, Joel Baker, Jo Bartholomew, Phillip Burrows, Simon Child, Ben Collier, Dean Couzins, Steve Edwards, Stephen Graham, David Green, Nick Haig, Andy Hayward, Blair Hilton, Blair Hopping, Hugo Inglis, Shea McAleese, Arun Panchia, Richard Petherick, Kyle Pontifex, Nick Wilson.

- NZPA