AUCKLAND, Feb 1, 2008 - Olympic field hockey regulars Argentina and New Zealand face a desperate last chance bid to reach Beijing in a winner-takes-all qualifying tournament starting here Saturday.

　　The two have the best credentials in the six-team tournament, having played in nine Olympics, with New Zealand the 1976 gold medallists, but both failed to secure a Beijing berth during the regular qualifying rounds.

　　The tournament offers one Olympic spot to the winner.

　　The New Zealand players, averaging an impressive 100 Tests each, go into the tournament fresh from series wins over Chile and Japan last month and a drawn series against world No 2 Australia in Australia last November.

　　"We go in well prepared for what will be quite an even sort of competition," New Zealand coach Shane McLeod said. "Argentina and New Zealand may have their heads out in front, but it is definitely not a two horse race.

　　"Ireland are a solid sort of team who will play a defensive game. We have to be very, very aware of them," he said. "As in most of their sports, France are capable of pulling off some amazing results. They have a lot of flair and a couple of really good players."

　　Argentina, the second most experienced side with an average of 79 caps, were expected to have little trouble booking their ticket to Beijing until they were upset by Canada in the final of last July's Pan American Games.

　　Led by Mario Almada, 32, who has played 223 times for his country, Argentina are currently ranked seventh in the world, the highest seeding of the six teams in the tournament.

　　New Zealand are ranked No 10, followed by France (16), Ireland (19), Trinidad and Tobago (24) and the United States (27).

　　New Zealand and Argentina are set to clash next Wednesday in round-robin play.

　　They last met at the Champions Challenge tournament in Belgium in June 2007, when they drew 3-3 in the round robin before Argentina won the final 3-2 with a golden goal in extra time.

　　McLeod said there was a sense of unfinished business within the New Zealand camp.

　　"We've done a lot of study on them. We've had to wait a long time to seek some revenge for what happened in Belgium."

　　Draw:

　　Feb 2: France vs Ireland, New Zealand vs Trinidad/Tobago, Argentina vs USA

　　Feb 3: New Zealand vs Ireland, USA vs France, Trinidad/Tobago vs Argentina

　　Feb 5: Ireland vs Trinidad/Tobago, France vs Argentina, New Zealand vs USA

　　Feb 6: Trinidad/Tobago vs France, New Zealand vs Argentina, Ireland vs USA

　　Feb 9: Trinidad/Tobago vs USA, Argentina vs Ireland, France vs New Zealand

　　Feb 10: Final, 1st vs 2nd