All you need to know

Black Sticks squad: Blair Tarrant (captain), Hugo Inglis (vice-captain), Steve Edwards, Sean Findlay, Leon Hayward, Stephen Jenness, Sam Lane, Dane Lett, Shea McAleese, Jared Panchia, Nick Ross, Kane Russell, Jacob Smith, Dylan Thomas, Nick Wilson, Nic Woods.

Fixtures (NZ times): Today, 1pm: v India

Tomorrow, 11.45pm: v Spain

Tuesday, 2.45pm: v Japan

Thursday, 12.15am: v Australia

Friday, 10pm: v Argentina

Outlook: The Black Sticks men arrive with little expectation after struggling in both home and away series against world No 1 Australia. They haven’t had any other international competition since early 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, so it’s tough to get a true gauge where they’re really at. Ranked ninth in the world, it’s hard to see the Black Sticks competing for a medal. Not making the quarterfinals would be a failure though. Get to the quarterfinals and New Zealand will hope in a one-off game, they can upset one of the medal favourites. They came close to doing that against Germany in Rio, but butchered it late in the game.

GETTY IMAGES/PHOTOSPORT Shea McAleese has stuck with the Black Sticks through good times and bad during a 310-cap, 16-year career which will end in Tokyo. Inset left, one notable low point was the 3-2 loss to Germany in Rio 2016 after McAleese, right, had helped give the Black Sticks a 2-0 lead. 1.10pm: Grace Prendergast & Kerri Gowler (women’s pair, heat 3) 1.30pm: Stephen Jones & Brook Robertson (men’s pair, heat 2)