JONATHAN COOK
in New Delhi

The Investec South Africa women’s hockey team’s crucial Olympic Qualifier match against India (2.30 pm SA time) Wednesday appears likely to take place without superstar striker Pietie Coetzee, as the question of who will be in Saturday’s final took a new turn after Italy beat Ukraine 2-1 in the morning.

The SA/India match between two unbeaten teams will be televised live on SuperSport 6 and SS6A from 2.30 pm (SA time).

In the latest development, SA head coach Giles Bonnet said the world record goalscorer (232 goals in 236 Test matches) who is suffering from a viral infection would not be risked if a pending medical update confirmed that Coetzee wasn’t fit to play.

“Friday is too important,” said Bonnet, referring to South Africa’s 10.30 am (SA time) match against Canada.

After Italy’s 2-1 win over Ukraine Wednesday morning, the unbeaten Italians go to eight points with a goal difference of five and one match to play, against India at 2.30 pm (SA time) on Friday.

SA and India have a match in hand compared to Italy going into their league match Wednesday. India and SA are both on seven points but India have a goal difference of six compared to South Africa’s three.

India and SA are now under more pressure going into Wednesday’s 2.30 pm (SA time) match, India even more so as they face the uncertainty of tackling Italy Friday while SA are favourites to beat Canada.

“Our destiny is in our own hands,” said Bonnet.

Ukraine’s defeat means that at four points they are out of the race, as are Canada (one point) and Poland (zero points).

The top two teams after Friday’s remaining league round meet in Saturday’s 4.30 pm (SA time) final, the winner of which earns one of the last remaining berths in the London 2012 Olympic Games.