3 minute read
Nathan Ephraums and Kurt Lovett will start their international hockey careers when Australia host Great Britain at Sydney Olympic Park.
The Kookaburras will blood debutants Nathan Ephraums and Kurt Lovett this weekend in Sydney, handing the young guns a platform to stake a claim for the Tokyo Olympics.
Australia, who host Great Britain in Pro League double-headers at Sydney Olympic Park on Saturday and Sunday, were given a reality check by Belgium last weekend.
World Cup holders Belgium won both games, snatching the hosts' world No.1 ranking in the process.
Kookaburras coach Colin Batch has urged his charges to be more proactive and stop overthinking, admitting he was surprised they were so far off their best in a potential preview of the Tokyo gold-meal match.
Batch, who must trim the current 27-man squad to an Olympic touring party of 16, has also opted to start the international careers of 20-year-old Ephraums and 23-year-old Lovett.
"It would be unusual to debut and go to the Olympics in the same year but we've seen it before," Batch said.
"Anything is possible.
"When someone plays their first few games or their first year, they can just go out and play. There's no fear, the opposition don't know too much about them.
"Both of them are really skilful ... it's exciting whenever you have someone debut."
Lovett hails from the NSW town of Forbes and shifted to Sydney to develop his career, while Victorian Ephraums has friends and family travelling up from Melbourne for the occasion.
"Of course you dare to dream (of playing at the Tokyo Olympics) and strive for it," Ephraums said.
"But it's my first year, it's about getting comfortable with the boys and just playing my first few games. I'll keep working hard as the year progresses and see what happens.
"It's really exciting. Hockey has always been a passion for me, I've played since I was about four years old."
Ephraums admitted the intensity of training has been eye opening.
"Every day is a hard session. Everyone always pushes each other so hard, it's no wonder they're all improving all the time," the striker said.
"The co-captains Eddie Ockenden and Aran Zalewski have been really good, helping me adjust. All the boys have been great."
This weekend is also set to feature milestone games for Kookaburras Jake Whetton (200 games) and Tom Craig (100 games).
