Scotland Women will play two final warm-up internationals against Belgium from 27-28 July in Wellington as they enter their final preparations before taking part in the EuroHockey Nations Championship next month.
Scotland Women Head Coach Gordon Shepherd is keen to ensure that he has appraised all of his playing options programme ahead of the European competition.
“The squad selection for the European Championship is certainly not clear cut or finalised and these games against Belgium will give the players the opportunity to test themselves against a very good opponent”, said Shepherd.
Merlins Gordonians goalkeeper Siobhan Cowie comes into the squad of eighteen players travelling to the continent next week and will potentially win her first senior international cap.
Belgium, meanwhile, are also preparing for the EuroHockey Nations Championship on home soil next month and will offer a demanding level of competition and performance requirements to the Scots.
“The Belgians have just played Holland and will be playing Germany this weekend, so they are building up towards competing in Boom as well and will present a tough challenge next weekend”, continued Shepherd.
“A number of players will get the chance to perform and put forward a good case for squad selection next month.
“Once we come back from Belgium, we go into a concentrated period of training sessions in the lead up to the Europeans, so the intensity is certainly increasing as we prepare for this important competition.”
Scotland Women: Amy Gibson (Milne Craig Clydesdale Western), Siobhan Cowie (Merlins Gordonians), Vikki Bunce (Dundee Wanderers), Ali Bell (Grove Menzieshill), Cat Ralph (Milne Craig Clydesdale Western), Sam Judge (Edinburgh University), Holly Cram (Milne Craig Clydesdale Western), Linda Clement (Grove Menzieshill), Becky Ward (Dundee Wanderers), Leigh Fawcett (Grove Menzieshill), Becky Merchant (Edinburgh University), Nikki Kidd (Edinburgh University), Susan McGilveray (Milne Craig Clydesdale Western), Alison Howie (Milne Craig Clydesdale Western), Emily Maguire (Reading), Amy Brodie (CALA Edinburgh), Nikki Lloyd (Sevenoaks), Morag McLellan (Milne Craig Clydesdale Western).
Source: Scottish Hockey
