Games hockey squad set to get difficult test in Paris tournament

IT's the start of the final countdown for Delhi as Scotland hockey coach Russell Garcia takes his Commonwealth Games squad to Paris for a five nations tournament against Ireland, Poland, Malaysia and hosts France this week.

This will be a stiff test for Garcia's charges as the opposition are all ahead of the Scots in the world rankings. In the recent Celtic Cup, the Scots lost 3-1 to a strong Irish side but managed to see off France 3-2 with strikes from Inverleith's Adam McKenzie, Josh Cairns and Kenny Bain. But far more interesting for Garcia is the encounter with Malaysia, they are in Scotland's pool in Delhi along with India, Pakistan and Australia. The Scots last met the Asians in the World Cup Qualifier in New Zealand last November, that day Malaysia romped into a 3-0 half time lead, but a second half comeback produced goals from Bain and Stephen Dick and only some naive play prevented a final share of the points.

"This is the first time we've got all our players together at the same time, so going into the five nations we really need to get everyone on the same page in terms of tactics and agreed objectives," said Garcia.

Garcia then stressed the good range of youth and experience in his Delhi squad. "We have the three under 21 players in Kenny Bain, Gordon McIntyre and Alan Forsyth who we need to integrate into the squad, as well as the more experienced players like Niall Stott, Graham Moodie and Mark Ralph, so it's an interesting mix."

The only absentee is Olympic keeper Alistair McGregor, on honeymoon in Kenya, and Bowdon's Jamie Cachia, a travelling reserve for Delhi, steps in between the posts. The other named reserves, Menzieshill defender Gavin Byers and Russell Anderson from English side Brooklands, are also given an outing in Paris.

First up is France tomorrow and a repeat of the Celtic Cup victory would be just the tonic for Garcia's Delhi-bound squad.

Scotland squad: J Cachia (Bowdon), M Ralph, C Nelson, I Scholefield, R Stott, W Marshall, K Bain, A Forsyth, G McIntyre, G Hall (Glynhill Kelburne), V Marwaha (Western Wildcats), G Moodie (Edinburgh University), S Dick, D Salmond (Inverleith), C Fraser (Grange), N Stott (East Grinstead), G Byers (Menzieshill) R Anderson (Brooklands).