MEN'S HOCKEY World Cup Qualifier: Ireland need a first win against Pakistan today to maintain an interest in World Cup qualification at the eliminator in Changzhou in China.

Failure to take a point from their game with Egypt cost them dear, as the Irish were blown away by two late goals in the fourth of their games in Pool A on Monday.

Needing to finish fourth of six in their half of the draw, they enter the fray level with Egypt on three points, while Canada trail last, without a point, and Belgium, Pakistan and England are out of sight at the top of the table.

But such is the tight nature of the competition that, if Ireland lose and the Canadians beat Egypt, then the North Americans will vault ahead of the other two on goal difference.

In facing up to Pakistan, coach Dave Passmore is fully aware the line of form points only one way.

"Hockey is their national passion, that and cricket," said the Irish coach. "They get 80,000 for their home games and they have qualified for the last 12 World Cups."

If such a record is intimidating, then he argues that the only way to approach the game is to draw strength on the underdog label and treat the match as a cup final.

The match will earn left back Jason Black his 100th Irish senior cap in a career that dates back to Padua in 1999 when he was blooded in a 2-2 draw against Switzerland.

His only previous experience of taking on Pakistan was a 7-0 rout at Dhaka in Bangladesh five years ago, an experience the 28-year-old would rather not dwell on and rather not repeat.

Passmore may choose to rest forward Timmy Cockram after the Lisnagarvey player took a painful blow to the throat during the match with Egypt.

He experienced breathing difficulties for several hours afterwards and was still having some problems swallowing food yesterday morning despite an injection of steroids.

TODAY: Belgium v England; Pakistan v Ireland; Egypt v Canada.