India will have to see off strong Canada in the Olympic Qualifier at home early next year in order to book ticket for London Olympics.

The other five teams in the Delhi Olympic Qualifier include Egypt, Poland and France.

The FIH is shortly expected to release the team composition of the 2012 Olympic Qualifier.

India and Canada had in the past fought for Olympic Qualifier on many occasions, like in Auckland 1991, and then in 1996 at Barcelona.

There are many ethnic Indians in the Canadian team, and the mixture makes the forthcoming OQ interesting. Former Indian Olympic captain Ramandeep Singh is also involved with the Canadian team.

Fortunately for India, Korea will have to go Japan, and essentially face Malaysia.

Spain heads the Ireland group, the third destination of the series OQs.

Though the teams in the Delhi OQ looks winnable for India, others in the group such as Canada, Poland and even France have nearly upset India in varius qualifiers.

Michael Nobbs team therefore have to be extra cautious in preparation for the Olympic Qualifier.