It's common for brothers to play together in South Africa's senior national field hockey team, but it's rare for two sisters to do the same.

That could change when South Africa faces Malaysia in the first of four matches, with a real chance that Tuks hockey sisters Tegan and Cerian Fourie will share the Astroturf.

As far as records show, the last time this happened was in 2008, when twins Vida and Vidette Ryan represented South Africa at the Beijing Olympics. However, reliable South African hockey statistics are scarce.

"If Cerian and I get to play, it will be incredible. It is something we have been dreaming about for a long time. As I am five years older, we never played together in any age group. It only happened when we both started to play at Tuks and for Northerns," said Tegan.

Earlier this year, the two sisters represented South Africa's indoor women's hockey team. Tegan is no stranger to international hockey. She debuted playing for the women's national outdoor squad six years ago and has 18 caps.

Tegan admits to it being a hard pill to swallow when she got dropped from the national outdoor squad.

"But I did not allow it to get to me. As a player, I always push myself to be better. I need to reach new heights in whatever I do. I will forever be grateful to Inky Zondi, who coaches me at Tuks and is now the national coach. I consider him one of the best I have ever worked with, as he knows how to get every player to step up and play for a common goal."

Playing as a center midfielder, Tegan feels her best attribute is her ability to read the game. 

"It is as if I can anticipate what will happen before it does. It enables me to be a good distributor of the ball. I get genuinely excited when I can set up a teammate to attack or when I get to break the line, finding that extra pass."

Tegan's success story is much more than being fleet of foot and having outstanding dribbling skills. At the age of six, Fourie was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. It could have meant an immediate end to her hockey-playing days. But even at such a young age, she somehow knew she had to continue what she loved doing, and that was playing hockey. To quit was never an option.

"So I don't know life without diabetes. It has taught me a lot and has created who I am as a person. Diabetes has taught me about discipline. Some days are more demanding. I don't always know what is happening and why it is happening. I have learned to follow specific rules. If you stick to it, you will achieve whatever you want. It is a bit like give and take."

The other Tuks players part of the South African national squad are Baylee Engelke (uncapped), Cailynn Den Bakker (15 caps), Edith Molikoe (42 caps), and Lerato Mahole (10 caps).