CANTERBURY Hockey Club begin the defence of their English Indoor Premier Division title with the first of two tournaments at Kidderminster this weekend.

The 12-man squad features a number of familiar faces who now ply their outdoor trade away from Polo Farm, including David Mathews, who controversially accepted an attractive offer to join Kent rivals Holcombe in the summer.

Indoor captain Stewart Keir and indoor player-coach Zak Jones – who now plays outdoors for Beeston – included Mathews in their squad and their decision was backed the club's committee.

Keir said: "It is a sensitive issue. There are a lot of people who were not happy with his decision to go elsewhere but we have to be cold – we want the best team and the best chance of winning."

Andy Richardson – last year's outdoor captain and man of the match in last season's final at a packed National Indoor Arena in Birmingham – is another to return for this campaign.

However, due to a new rule limiting the number of non-current players per squad to three – there is no room for Sam Bury, who is instead named as manager.

Canterbury will take on Beeston, Bournville, East Grinstead, Kingston-upon-Hull, Loughborough Students, Old Loughtonians, Reading and Robinson's in tournaments at the Glades Leisure Centre in Kidderminster this weekend and on the weekend of January 12 and 13.

They will be looking for a third consecutive appearance in the National Indoor Hockey Championships Final in the NIA on January 27.