Kookaburras coach Colin Batch has opted for stability after months of uncertainty with just one change to his Australian men's hockey squad for Olympic year 2021.
The COVID-19 shutdown of world sport meant the Kookaburras played just eight internationals in 2020 - and none since March.
With the Tokyo Olympics scheduled to start in July next year, the jostling for spots is about to intensify.
Batch announced a 27-man squad on Tuesday, to be whittled down to 16 in mid-June ahead of the Olympics.
His only change for 2021 replaces Queensland forward Dylan Wotherspoon with the versatile Dylan Martin.
Martin is yet to make his international debut, but the 22-year-old excelled at the recent National Super Camp in Perth.
"Dylan is strong technically, physically he is very good, and he is a smart player who can play in a number of different positions for us," Batch said.
"All of the players selected are excited about being in the pre-Olympic squad.
"We are looking forward to getting back to playing international matches and having that focus of the Olympics. It is getting closer.
"Further to Tokyo, the selection of this squad is also about starting to target the 2022 Commonwealth Games and 2024 Olympics in Paris."
Kookaburras games record-holder Eddie Ockenden, who will head into his 15th year of representing his country at senior level, and Aran Zalewski, who was named Player of the Tournament in the inaugural FIH Pro League, will again co-captain the squad.
The Kookaburras are tentatively scheduled to take on New Zealand in the FIH Pro League on April 24/25, but the changing nature of COVID-19 restrictions means the fixture isn't locked in stone.
Kookaburras squad: Jacob Anderson, Daniel Beale, Josh Beltz, Tim Brand, Andrew Charter (gk),Tom Craig, Matthew Dawson, Johan Durst (gk), Nathan Ephraums, Blake Govers, Jake Harvie, Jeremy Hayward, Tim Howard, Tyler Lovell (gk), Kurt Lovett, Dylan Martin, Trent Mitton, Eddie Ockenden, Flynn Ogilvie, Lachlan Sharp, Josh Simmonds, Matthew Swann, Jack Welch, Corey Weyer, Jake Whetton, Tom Wickham, Aran Zalewski
