LAHORE, March 17: Khawaja Zakauddin, chief coach of Pakistan’s hockey team, is confident that his boys will achieve victory against Asian silver medallists China in the third Test of the five-match series at Changzhou on Tuesday.

“After winning the second Test 2-0 the boys are confident to repeat the performance in the third match,” said Zaka on Monday.

“We had a poor start (to the series) but managed to overcome it. And things are now in our favour in terms of performing like a unit. We are all set to record another favourable result,” he maintained.

He added that the team was in the rebuilding process for the Olympics, adding the new players were being given fair chances to prove their potential.

“We have some worries regarding a couple of players who are injured but we’ll be having good replacements, if needed, to continue our effort for good result,” he said.

Talking about two midfielders — Mohammad Imran and Mohammad Irfan — who sustained injuries during the second Test, Zakauddin said: “Imran has been ruled out of this (third) match. He got a vicious stick blow on his hand but the X-ray has shown no fracture.

About Irfan he said: “Irfan has also had a severe injury but we have to wait until Tuesday and then decide if the right halfback can be inducted or not.”

Zaka was optimist that the forwards Waqas Sharif, Rehan Butt, Shakeel Abbasi, Shafqat Rasool, Mohammad Zubair and Haider Abbas will be a potent threat to a well-packed Chinese defence.

“The forwards are working very hard, specially inside-left Zubair and left-winger Haider Abbas are doing a fine job while assisting the midfield and then launching forays from the left flank,” he said.

Pakistan will play their fourth Test against China on March 19, while the fifth and final Test will be held on March 21.

The tourists return home on March 24.—APP