hockey tasmania.org.au

HOCKEY star Eddie Ockenden is playing his first international match on home soil tomorrow.

One of the hottest properties in the sport highlighted by his selection in the World Hockey All Star team last month the 22-year-old will line up against Korea at the Tasmanian Hockey Centre in front of a parochial home crowd.

It is the first time international hockey has been played in Tasmania since Australia met Spain in a three-Test series in 2005, just before Ockenden broke into the Kookaburras squad.

"It's great being back, I love being back here. I always tell everyone how good it is here and the boys come down and like it," Ockenden said yesterday.

"We haven't had much international stuff but we have played a lot of state hockey here.

"I'm pretty excited. I made the team a month after they last played in Hobart so I thought I had missed my chance for a couple of years so to get another game here, I'm really excited.

"Ever since I made the team, I've wanted to play here. I think we have some of the best crowds in Australia when we play for Tasmania so hopefully we get the same this week."

Since exploding on to the global stage in 2006, Ockenden has twice been named best young player at the Champions Trophy tournaments (in 2007 and '08) and he was also crowned 2008 World Young Player of the Year.

Now with the World Cup just around the corner, the local hero says the three-Test series against Korea is both a fine-tuner and selection trial for India next month, ensuring the matches are of the highest quality.

"We had a really tough training block in Perth, starting in early January. It's been pretty tough and hot but everyone is pretty fit. With the World Cup so soon we can't afford to lose any fitness," he said.

"There is pretty tough competition for spots. We've got 24 guys here and they only take 18 to the World Cup.

"They are selection games as well. You want to be building towards the World Cup but you can't afford to not be at your best."

Despite losing to Australia 4-0 in the Champions Trophy last month, Korea bounced back to shock Olympic champions and world No. 1 Germany 5-3 before going on to win the bronze medal.

Ockenden refuses to underestimate the Asian Games titleholder, saying: "I don't think I've ever had an easy game against Korea. The last game we won 4-0 but we had a couple of chances where we got a bit lucky."

The first Test tomorrow night starts at 7pm.