The Kookaburras will be given a final opportunity to sharpen up ahead of the 2011 Champions Trophy when they play Pakistan on Thursday 3 November in Perth.
The match will complete their three Nations tournament against both Pakistan and India, with an Australia A team set to take on India on Thursday as well.
After a quiet start to 2011 in which the Kookaburras hardly played until mid way through the year, they are regaining their momentum which saw them win every major championship in 2010, winning the Oceania Cup against New Zealand in early October, winning the Lanco International Super Series and now remaining undefeated during the three Nations tournament against Pakistan and India.
Not only have they remained undefeated but they have been winning well, victorious in each of their four games by an average of four goals.
Their ability to score also seems to be no issue for the world number one team, scoring an average of six goals per match.
A number of senior players have been named in the Australia A side including AIS-WAIS athletes Fergus Kavanagh and Joel Carroll as well as Luke Doerner, who have all recently returned from injury.
Four time world player of the year Jamie Dwyer will also be rested from the matches on Thursday.
Kookaburras coach Ric Charlesworth said he has been happy with the team’s progression, but there is still much room for improvement.
“There has been some good hockey (during the three Nations tournament) played. Pakistan are always a difficult team and I expect it to be a real challenge for us when we play them on Thursday. I still think we have a lot of loose ends to tie up but certainly from the Oceania Cup and the Lanco International Super Series and now at this tournament we are getting to a better level,” said Charlesworth.
-Hockey Australia
