CHANDIGARH, Feb 16: After cricket, another epic rivalry between India and Pakistan will be witnessed when two South Asian hockey giants clash in first of six-match home-and-away series on Friday.

Both countries have so far played 46 matches in seven series. Pakistan won 22 and India 15, while nine matches ended in draw.

Visitors have a clear edge over hosts as they have a 5-1 series lead with 2004 series going in favour of Pakistan (4-2).

Both teams have included new faces in their line-up. Indian skipper Dilip Tirkey, who got married recently, will not play during home leg. Arjun Hallapa is likely to captain side.

Pakistan coach Asif Bajwa would utilise rookies Mudassar Khan, Shabbir Khan and Mohammad Zubair in forward line to prepare them for Melbourne Commonwealth Games to be held from March 15-26.

Asif indicated that series would help both countries to build their teams for Games.

India will be without services of senior stars Gagan Ajit Singh, who captained India in Champions Trophy in Chennai, Viren Rashquinha, Deepak Thakur and Prabhjot Singh and Baljit Singh Saini who were left out for series.—Agencies

Our Sports reporter adds from Islamabad: The schedule of the second leg of the hockey Test series between Pakistan and India has been revised again, officials said on Thursday.

According to the new schedule, Lahore will now host the first Test on Feb 22 with Rawalpindi staging the third on the 26th. The date of the second game at Faisalabad on Feb 24 however remains unchanged.

A spokesman for the Pakistan Sports Board said on Thursday that the rescheduling had to be done because of a strike call in Lahore on Feb 26, the original date of the third Test there.