A HURDLE is out of the Fiji men's team's way in their bid to qualify for the second round of the International Hockey Federation World League competition to be held in India next year.
According to competition manager Gill Gemming, the Samoa men's team will be unable to compete because of problems with their flight arrangements.
Gemming, who is also the Oceania Hockey Federation continental development officer, said Samoa would be able to send only a team to the event and they chose to send their women's side.
She said the young Samoa women's team was better prepared having been together since last year.
The Fiji men's and women's teams need to beat their Pacific opponents — Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea (PNG) and Samoa — to advance to round two of the World League.
Australia Country and New Zealand Maori are the other teams that are part of the Round One World League, which will be played simultaneously with the Oceania Hockey Cup from this Saturday.
Meanwhile, PNG has challenged the Fijians to be well prepared to face the best of them in the competition.
Gemming, who was with the PNG team prior to her arrival in the country, said they had been training hard and aiming to claim the slot available from the Pacific region at the second round of the World League in India.
"Vanuatu is our new member and they have done a lot since last year. They had some difficulties like getting the uniforms and etcetera," she said.
Gemming said they would be using some new international rules which would be exciting to watch at this tournament.
"We are expecting some really exciting hockey during this tournament."