Team India will have to adopt ruthless and attacking style of hockey like the Australians. This is what you hear often these days. But, the man in-charge of India’s national hockey team, Michael Nobbs, says that it is India where the Australians have learned their hockey from. “We are not trying to be like Australians. It is just that Aussies have excelled in an attacking style which was once the trademark of hockey in India,” Nobbs told espnstar.com. “It is nothing new. India have had lot of experimentation over the years. They tried to go for the European style but it did not work.

“My point is, why think and prepare for something that is not your actual thing? If it is not your own, it is not your own,” Nobbs stressed. A fitness freak himself, the Australian highlighted that attack would be his focus from the word go, but also warned that only the fittest will survive.

“We will go for an all-out attack. However, to keep up the pressure, we will need guys who are injury-free and in their best shape. You can’t hide injuries these days. I’ve told everyone in the team to feel free to tell us in case there is any injury issue. It is in everyone’s interest. Any injury needs immediate attention or else you run the risk of a career-threatening problem,” he added.

The India coach also stressed upon the need of rotation as far as the players’ positioning is concerned. “Rotation helps in saving energy. You’ve got to last 70 minutes and I’m confident that with the fitness level of the current team, it won’t be an issue,” a confident Nobbs said. “We have set ourselves specific plans and goals that will help focus on fitness as well as skill development. A proper video-recording is being done of how other teams are playing and with the aid of technology, it becomes easier in emulate.

“The whole team has responded to the call. (Physio) David John has set some rigorous practice sessions during the drills and each individual in the team has responded positively to it. You can spot the difference,” Nobbs said, indicating to the group of youngsters. So is there any difference in the training methodology? Nobbs feels that it has become personalised.

“We don’t just run. We run specifically. “We are actually moving away from nebulous targets. That reflects in our training also. Each individual is different. There can’t be same set of exercise for everyone. There are couple of individuals in the team who need to gain some weight, few need to build on the calf muscle and few need to get their reflexes sharpened and things like that.

“We have therefore designed our training in a manner which enhances the power-weight ratio,” he added. The Olympic qualifiers start in New Delhi on February 18 and this would be India’s last chance to secure a ticket for the London Olympics. Nobbs sounded confident of making the cut. “We are quietly confident of winning the event and our practice is going as per plan. One thing I can assure Indian hockey fans of -- if we fail, it won’t be for the lack of trying.”