KUALA LUMPUR: Four hockey players in the 30-man training squad have earned "early places" for the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in Ipoh from May 4-11.
They are goalkeeper Hafizuddin Othman, defender Marhan Jalil and the Saari brothers, midfielder Fitri and forward Faizal.
Fitri and Faizal, who are currently playing for Mohammedan Sporting Club in the Bangladesh League, will rejoin the national squad next week.
The other 26 players in the training squad will have to fight for the remaining 14 places.
National chief coach Sarjit Singh said Hafizuddin, Marhan, Fitri and Faizal are seasoned campaigners.
"These four will guide the other players in the team," said Sarjit.
World No 13 Malaysia will play friendlies against world No. 10 New Zealand on May 1 and world No. 11 South Korea on May 2 in Ipoh.
The teams for the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup are Pakistan (world No. 15), Japan (16th), Canada (19th), New Zealand, South Korea and Malaysia.