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The playmakers who scan the pitch as they dribble forward, using peripheral vision as a tool to determine where to direct a pass, depending upon the positioning of the rival defence are the same ones who control traffic at the centre of the pitch by cutting off through-balls, making vital interceptions, and controlling the pace of the game by retaining possession when necessary.
The midfielders - often multiskilled campaigners, with an array of talents, comprise the backbone of the team.
Effective on-pitch communication skills are an absolute prerequisite to being an effective midfielder, and quite often the men in the role assume vital leadership positions in the set-up.
Veterans midfielders like Sardar Singh have bedazzled the hockey world with their repertoire of tricks in midfield while young prodigies like Vivek Sagar Prasad will, no doubt, leave their imprint as the years go by.
Neither Sardar nor young Vivek Sagar will be at Bhubaneswar but a host of other immensely gifted individuals will.
We take a look at five such midfielders who will be expected to play a key role for their respective sides at the World Cup.
#5 Barry Middleton (England)
With over 400 international appearances, for England and Great Britain, Barry Middleton is one of the most recognizable faces of English - and world hockey.
A four-time Olympian, the 34-year-old has marshaled the England midfield ever since 2003. A former skipper, Middleton will be playing his fourth World Cup at Bhubaneswar while for 13 of his teammates, it will be their first-ever World Cup appearance.
The English veteran has witnessed several modifications in the style and format of world hockey over the years but has always managed to stay abreast of the changes, and has expressed his admiration for yet another great midfielder - German stalwart, Mauritz Fuerste.
A midfielder who has the ability to make searing solo runs, Middleton will be a vital cog in Danny Kerry's set up as a youthful England squad will look to the legend to guide them through the pool stages against a formidable Australian - and, a resolute Irish side.
#4 Billy Bakker (The Netherlands)
When the Netherlands take on Malaysia in a Pool D clash on December 1, it will be the third World Cup for veteran Billy Bakker. The 30-year-old was part of the Dutch squad that won silver medals at the Delhi World Cup in 2010 and at the 2012 London Olympics.
Sjoerd Marijne, coach of the Indian women's team who spent 3 years coaching Billy at home knows a thing or two about the ace midfielder and described his one-time protege thus.
"Great overview and loves to play combination hockey. I was his coach for three years. He Is also to able to score as a midfielder - very complete."
Holland took on Australia in the quarterfinals of the Rio Olympics a couple of years back, in an encounter that was touted to be a revenge match. The Kookaburras had annihilated the Dutch in the finals of the 2014 World Cup by a massive 6-1 margin and Max Caldas' boys were eager to turn the tables.
Less than a minute had elapsed before Billy Bakker found the net with a powerful reverse and delivered a superb assist to Bob de Voogd after dodging past three Aussie defenders just before halftime.
Bakker's ability to deliver precise and effective defense-splitting assists, along with his goal-poaching skills may well help the Dutch capture a World Cup gold after a gap of 20 years.
#3 Manpreet Singh (India)
At the Commonwealth Games at Gold Coast, the Indian captain attempted, in vain, to steady the ship amidst choppy waters, while the midfield seemed to crumble around him.
Rid of the burdens of captaincy and playing alongside his mentor Sardar Singh, at the Champions Trophy, the former captain appeared infinitely more solid and composed.
Back at the helm following India's disastrous finish at the Asian Games, Manpreet Singh finds himself in the hot seat yet again. The ever-reliable midfielder absorbed the pressures of captaincy admirably at the Asian Champions Trophy last month and sizzled on the pitch as well.
Manpreet's spectacular solo effort to outrun and sidestep Ali Shaan, followed by his well-directed low flick to the extreme right to beat goalie Imran Butt inspired the Indians to up the ante, after trailing against Pakistan at Muscat.
Yet, the World Cup is another stage altogether - and a World Cup at home, under the unflinching gaze of a million hopeful Indian fans will be an acid test for Manpreet's resolve and character.
Wilting under pressure, in big matches, has been the bane of the immensely-talented Indian side. In the semifinal of the Commonwealth Games earlier this year, the Indian skipper failed to control a pass and misdirected the ball to a New Zealand player which allowed Stephen Jenness to give the Black Sticks a 2-0 lead as early as the 13th minute.
The error at Gold Coast was but a small speck in an otherwise distinguished and unblemished career for the Arjuna Awardee, and if Manpreet can calm the nerves of his fellow midfielders and inspire the youngsters to rise to the occasion at Bhubaneswar, the 26-year old from Mithapur may well attain legendary status in three weeks' time.
#2 John-John Dohmen (Belgium)
Belgium's John-John Dohmen has epitomized the belief that great midfielders also make great captains. Leading the Red Lions from the front and catapulting his side to dizzying heights of glory is something the 30-year-old stalwart cherishes.
A silver medal in the Hockey World League Final in Raipur in 2015 was the perfect launch pad for the silver at the Rio Games in 2016, which was followed up by a well-deserved FIH Player of Year Award.
Scoring at the death is a trait that Dohmen seems to have perfected - he did so by scoring the winner in the very last minute against the Indians in a pool match of the 2014 World Cup when the scoreline read 2-2, and repeated the feat against the Irish in a pool match of the FINTRO Hockey World League Semifinal at Antwerp in 2015.
Dohmen was voted the Player of the Tournament in Antwerp and the Belgian No. 7 continues to lead from the front in spite of relinquishing the captaincy to Thomas Briels.
With over 360 international caps to his credit, the brilliant midfielder will have a huge role to play if the Red Lions are to win their first ever World Cup.
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#1 Eddie Ockenden (Australia)
In a squad of World Champions, brimming with unbridled talent, incredible skill, and ruthless efficiency, cementing one's place requires consistency of the highest order.
Following his debut in 2006, the 31-year-old Tasmanian is now one of the most-capped Kookaburras players with 332 international appearances. Indeed, Eddie Ockenden has made his mark as one of the best midfielders of all time.
Under the tutelage of the great Ric Charlesworth, Ockenden was part of the Australian team which beat India 8-0 in the final of the Delhi Commonwealth Games in 2010, and scored in the final of the Delhi World Cup, the same year, to help his side beat defending champions Germany.
A three-time Olympian (bronze-medalist in 2008 and 2012), Ockenden scored in the bronze-medal match against hosts India in the 2014 Champions Trophy at Bhubaneswar and was part of the Australian team which won the Champions Trophy gold in 2016 and 2018.
Ockenden is the seniormost member of a side that possesses, arguably, the strongest midfield alongside the redoubtable co-captain Aran Zalewski, Daniel Beale, and Tom Craig.
The retirement of veteran Mark Knowles following the Commonwealth Games has meant that veterans like Ockenden have had to step forth and assume a leadership role in a side which aims to capture their third successive, and fourth overall World Cup title.
