Hockey: Scots top five await news of Beijing squad

NERVES abound for Scotland's five players in the Great Britain hockey squad with the British Olympic Association announcing the final squad selection of 16 players and two reserves on 24 June.

Alistair McGregor (Loughborough), Mark Ralph (Kelburne) and Stephen Dick (Inverleith) all played in the Olympic qualifiers in Chile, where GB defeated India in the final. Athens Olympians Niall Stott (Kelburne) and Graham Moodie (Western Wildcats) have since also been involved in the training schedule.

Manager Pete Nicholson said: "The selection date for the Olympics is governed by the BOA, so the matches in June will be the last chance for the competing athletes to impress before we pick the final 16."

After two Tests against Spain in Terrassa next month, Nicholson's Olympic hopefuls travel to Dublin for the Setanta Trophy against Canada, Pakistan and hosts Ireland.

Amsterdam is the next venue for a test match against New Zealand.

McGregor, Moodie and Dick have been picked for the build-up programme, but Stott and Ralph are missing from the squad to face New Zealand.