Men's Hockey NewsIreland host China in two Test matches over the weekend, as well as this evening's friendly at Serpentine Avenue, only the second time the nations will have met in competitive games.
The visitors, who finished four places below Ireland in the World Cup qualifier earlier this year but are one place higher in the world rankings, are using the tour as part of their build-up to hosting the 2008 Olympic Games.
"China are a fast developing nation and with the luxury of having full-time athletes," said coach Dave Passmore. "They are fast, physical and have good basic techniques so we will need to be at our best to win these matches."
Stephen Butler is due to win his 100th cap this weekend as Passmore begins the process of choosing a squad for next summer's European Championships in Manchester.
IRELAND SQUAD: I Lewers, S Redpath, J Quigley (all Annadale), G Lennox, G McCabe, E Magee (all Banbridge), A Barbour (Cookstown), C Henderson (Corinthians), D Hobbs, J Jermyn, A Pritchard (Church of Ireland), C Harte, M Black, S Nicholson (all Cork Harlequins), S Butler, G Shaw (both Glenanne), M Watt (Grange, Scotland), P Brown (capt), M Irwin (both Instonians), T Cockram (Lisnagarvey), M Gleghorne (Loughborough), R Gormley (Pembroke Wanders), I Walker (YMCA).
INTERNATIONALS: Today: Ireland v China, Serpentine Avenue, 8.0. Tomorrow: Ireland v China, Serpentine Avenue, 5.30. Sunday: Ireland v China, Grange Road, 11.0.
