Ireland’s men hockey side face New Zealand in Pahang Champions Challenge 1

The first serious steps for new Irish coach Craig Fulton takes place on Saturday in Malaysia, where the Irish men's team face New Zealand in their opening pool game of the Pahang Champions Challenge 1. Eleven of the "Black Stick" players have amassed 100 international caps or more.

The main thing on offer as Ireland also face Japan and Poland in their group, are ranking points. It’s a long way off but ultimately the stated Irish goal is a place at the Rio Olympics in 2016. For Fulton and this team, a blend of familiar and unfamiliar faces, it’s the start of a two year journey.

Banbridge, with six players in the 18-man squad, have the highest representation with twice Irish Hockey League champions Monkstown just one in goalkeeper Davy Fitzgerald. That will not have gone down well in Rathdown as other Dublin sides Pembroke and UCD also have more layers in the travelling side.

But that’s what tournaments like these will tell Fulton, who has a good understanding of Irish hockey, having played here for a number of years in Serpentine Avenue.

Tournament favourites, New Zealand are highest ranked at sixth in the world and are building towards the summer's World Cup in Holland. Ireland are 15 with Poland at 18 and Japan 14. Success would mean beating even one of the two higher ranked sides as well as Poland for a decent playoff position.

Just 12 teams competed in London 2012 and if Ireland are taking a realistic view of getting to Rio, the team will have to start climbing up the world rankings. Japan, Korea (6) and New Zealand played in last year’s Olympics while Malaysia (13) and Canada (14), who play in the other pool with Korea are also ranked higher.

Saturday: Ireland v New Zealand
Sunday Ireland v Poland
Tuesday: Ireland v Japan