Great Britain's chances of beating Germany, the reigning Olympic champions, in their opening match on Sunday have been given a huge boost with the news that Alex Danson has passed a late fitness test after straining ligaments in her right ankle. The striker, 23, is Britain's leading goalscorer this year and Danny Kerry, Great Britain's head coach, said missing her services would be like losing Wayne Rooney before a major tournament.

"We are delighted for the team and Alex," Kerry said. "She has shown tremendous strength of character over the last ten days and is thoroughly deserving of this positive outcome."

For the twelve Olympic debutantes in the squad it is a daunting opening fixture but Charlotte Craddock, 17, intends to take it in her stride. The striker has yet to win her first England cap and is the youngest-ever player to represent Great Britain at hockey, succeeding the 1988 Seoul gold medallist, Russell Garcia, who was 18. The pupil from Repton School overcame a stress fracture in her back earlier this year and says she still can't believe she is at the Olympics. Unfazed about taking on the world's best players she said:"It's exciting and I can't wait to get going. It doesn't bother me being the youngest. Everyone is pretty cool about it and they all look after me."

Kerry says both teams know each other well and he expects it to be tight. "We have tried to get the balance in preparation between sharpness whilst not over-cooking ourselves before a long tournament," he said. "Germany have excellent players in all the lines but we feel ready to take them on."

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Kate Walsh, the captain, is one of the quartet who played in Sydney in 2000, along with fellow defender Mel Clewlow and the midfield players Helen Richardson and Lucilla Wright. At 32, Clewlow is the oldest and most capped member of the squad while the immensely talented Crista Cullen, 22, is arguably the only world class player.

On current form the Dutch are favourites to capture their first title since Los Angeles in 1984 but Argentina, Germany, China, Korea and a resurgent Australia all pose threats in an event Great Britain have every chance of reaching the semi-finals.

Both the men and women have gambled on including only one goalkeeper in their sixteen-strong squads in order to have another outfield player fresh to come on in the searing heat and humidity. It is a tactic favoured by most of the top nations here although several others have named two goalkeepers.

The men open their campaign on Monday against the three times former gold medallists, Pakistan. Simon Mantell, the striker, is expected to be fit to play despite breaking his nose last week. He has a black eye and stitches in the wound but came through a training match without any ill effects.

For the first time since 1928, India, who have won a record eight gold medals, will be absent while Australia start the defence of their Olympic crown against surprise qualifiers, Canada.

Men

Pool A: Belgium, China, Germany, South Korea, New Zealand, Spain.

Pool B: Australia, Canada, Great Britain, Holland, Pakistan, South Africa.

Women

Pool A: Australia, China, South Korea, Holland, South Africa, Spain.

Pool B: Argentina, Germany, Great Britain, Japan, New Zealand, USA.