Hockey players to watch at the Rio Games

HOCKEY PLAYERS TO WATCH IN RIO:

BLAKE GOVERS (Kookaburras) - Exciting youngster from Wollongong who is making his Olympic debut after just one year with the national team. Has stepped up in senior competition, including at the World League semi-final where he won top scorer and best junior player awards.

MADONNA BLYTH (Hockeyroos) - Captain since 2009, Blyth overtook Nikki Hudson's all-time Hockeyroos' record of 303 caps in the 2015 World League semis. The two-time Olympian led the Hockeyroos to gold at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games in 2014. The midfielder has been named in the World All Stars team on three occasions.

JAMIE DWYER (Kookaburras) - A five-time world player of the year, Dwyer scored the goal in 2004 that broke the Kookaburra's Olympic gold medal drought. Rested from this month's Champions Trophy in London, the 37-year-old will arrive in Rio fresh and keen to win gold after Olympic bronze in 2008 and 2012.

INTERNATIONAL

LIDEWIJ WELTEN (The Netherlands) - The skilful midfielder/forward is a real crowd pleaser and the reigning world player of the year is chasing her third straight Olympic gold medal with the world No.1 Netherlands, an incredible record for a 25-year-old.

ROBERT VAN DER HORST (The Netherlands) - Captain of the world No.2 Netherlands, van der Horst is the reigning world player of the year. A consistent big-game player. The defender will be looking to go one better with the Netherlands than they did at the London Games in 2012.