Ireland women's hockey team play China later this morning in Valencia, Spain in the quarter finals of the World Hockey League.
The excellent performance by the side in topping Pool B has come with the added pressure of Olympic qualification at stake for the team. Ireland lost one of their four games in the Pool, but finished top of the standings.
A win today over China, will guarantee Ireland's participation in next years Olympics for the first time in the teams history.
Newstalk Sport's Oisin Langan spoke to Ireland head coach Darren Smith yesterday afternoon ahead of today's crucial game. Smith, who took over the job in November 2012, was assistant coach to his native New Zealand in the men's tournament at London 2012.
Smith says the enormity of today's game is not weighing on the squad. Speaking to Oisin, the New Zealander said that the preparation for the game has not changed from any of the other games throughout the tournament. "What we are hopeful is that that preparation will mean we are focused on the job at hand rather than focusing too much on that if we win this game we will go to the Olympic Games. That is the way will go about it."
None of the 18 players in the squad are professional. Smith says the side have sacrificed a lot, but would not be where they are without funding from the Irish Sports Council and Sport Northern Ireland. "We have played in excess of 50 internationals over the 12 months. For training, they have travelled from Belfast and Cork and stayed with their mates in Dublin. The girls love it. They love the opportunity to play for Ireland and put on that green jersey."
The head coach concluded that "although it's a sacrifice, it's an absolute privilege."
The game starts at 10.30am this afternoon in Valencia.
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