Hockey: Shepherd's squad facing final countdown to Delhi

Scotland's Senior Women travel to Auderghem this weekend to play Belgium in a series of three games.

It is the next stage in the selection process which will see coach Gordon Shepherd decide on the final 16 players who will represent Scotland at the Commonwealth Games in Delhi.

Shepherd said "The squad is now down to 18 players with two non-travelling reserves, who are Laura Wrightson (Kelburne) and Susan Hamilton (Grove)."

Grove pair Becky Merchant and Nikki Kidd along with Milne Craig Western's Morag McLellan, who will earn her first senior cap on the trip, remain in contention.

After backs-to-the-wall efforts against a top-rated Dutch side last weekend, the trip gives Scotland the chance to play against opposition ranked only five places above them and Shepherd said "All eighteen players will be given every chance of making the final cut.

"Hopefully there will be more opportunity to play our own game."