Hockey Australia yesterday named the 18-player national squad for next month's 24th Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in Ipoh, Malaysia, featuring both Budgeon and Hobart's reigning Tasmanian athlete of the year Eddie Ockenden.

Tasmanian Institute of Sport hockey coach Andrew McDonald said while it was disappointing that Launceston's Tim Deavin was not included, there remained plenty of opportunities for the London Olympian to push his cause.

"It appears to be a team full of experience with a blend of youth," McDonald said.

"I'm really pleased that Nick Budgeon gets another opportunity after the Hockey India League and Amelia Spence is also playing for the Hockeyroos.

"While it would have been nice to see Tim Deavin in there too, they know about Deavo, Josh Beltz can start getting involved at Australia A level while Kurt Mackey and Jeremy Edwards are part of the national development squad in Perth."

McDonald said the tournament was classified as an "exposure, test and see" opportunity for national selectors to put players under the microscope.

Captain Mark Knowles will return to lead the group having battled an ankle injury after winning the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

Two of the Kookaburras' most experienced players, Jamie Dwyer and Glenn Turner, will also return having not played for Australia since the World Cup in June last year.

Head coach Graham Reid described the squad as a good mixture of senior and young players.

With a key focus on building international exposure ahead of the Olympic qualifying event, the World League Semi Final tournament in Antwerp in June, Reid said: "We are trying to refine the team and give as many opportunities to our players as possible."

The Kookaburras, who have won the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup eight times, will open their campaign against Canada on April 5.

Kookaburras squad: Daniel Beale (QLD), Nick Budgeon (TAS), Joel Carroll (NT), Tristan Clemons (WA), Matthew Dawson (NSW), Jamie Dwyer (QLD), Matt Gohdes (QLD), Jeremy Hayward (NT), Leon Hayward (NT), Mark Knowles (QLD), Trent Mitton (WA), Eddie Ockenden (TAS), Glenn Simpson (VIC), Glenn Turner (NSW), Jake Whetton (QLD), Tristan White (NSW), Dylan Wotherspoon (QLD), Aran Zalewski (WA).