Ireland Hockey: Ireland will make Pro League debut against world number one side Netherlands
- Published
Ireland recently qualified for the Paris Olympics
Ireland coach Mark Tumilty says the Pro League will provide the perfect build-up to the Olympic Games.
Ireland qualified for this summer's Games in Paris last month and head to India to make their debut in the Pro League.
They will face hosts India, Australia, Spain and the world number one ranked side the Netherlands.
"It will be a good barometer of where we are in relation to the other nations," said Tumilty.
The Pro League is the elite competition in global hockey and consists of the top eight nations in the world with the winners of the Nations Cup gaining promotion to join them.
Ireland finished runners-up in the Nations Cup but gained their Pro League place when South Africa withdrew.
"I always said the Pro League was where we needed to be due to the level of opposition we get to play against," Tumilty told BBC Sport.
"A chance to play against India in front of their home crowd is definitely something to look forward to.
"I think we've learned most over the last 12 months or so playing against the tougher opposition. Some of those were tough defeats but you learn a lot more from those. We couldn't have asked for better preparation for Paris.
"I think it's something we have to get used to. It's something we want to do on a continuous basis is be at the top table of world hockey and this is the start of it."
The first series will commence in Bhubaneswar on 10 February and run until 16 February. The participating teams will then relocate to Rourkela, India and recommence the competition on 19 February through to 25 February.
Ireland will get to play Belgium, Argentina, Germany and Great Britain in future rounds which will take place in May in Belgium and June at the Lee Valley Hockey Centre in London.
For this series in India, Tumilty has named a 23-strong squad, with 16 of the players that helped Ireland qualify for the Olympics last month in Valencia included. Goalkeeper Davy Harte is a notable absentee while Kyle Marshall is injured.
Lisnagarvey goalkeeper James Milliken replaces Harte and Banbridge trio Charlie Rowe, Luke Witherow and Peter Brown as well as Ben Walker and Conor Empey are added to the squad.
Ireland's Pro League Fixtures
(Bhubaneswar Series - Start times GMT)
February 10 - Ireland v Netherlands 12:00
February 13 - Australia v Ireland 12:00
February 15 - Spain v Ireland 12:00
February 16 - India v Ireland 14:00
(Rourkela Series)
February 19 - Ireland v Netherlands 12:00
February 22 - Ireland v Australia 12:00
February 24 - Spain v Ireland 12:00
February 25 - India v Ireland 14:00