The Dutch, fresh from victory over Germany in the Champions Trophy, are looking to add to their present tally of three world cup victories in the face of stiff competition from the Germans, Australia and Spain.

Twelve nations play in two pools of six with the top two from each group advancing to the semifinals.

Australia and Spain have the form be semifinalists from Pool A, where Argentina, Japan and New Zealand will make up the numbers.

Germany and Netherlands should be too good for the rest of the field in Pool B, which also includes South Korea, England, India and South Africa.

Germany edged Olympic champions Australia out of the final of July's Champions Trophy in Spain with a goal two seconds from the final hooter, Spain beat Australia for bronze in a penalty shoot-out and Netherlands outstayed Germany 2-1 in the final.

Australia's preparations have suffered a setback with key defender Matthew Wells and striker Grant Schubert out injured.

The Dutch meanwhile remain the team to beat under the guidance of Roelant Oltmans.

The challenges for a semifinal place will come from Pakistan in Pool A and South Korea and England in Pool B.

Pakistan crashed and burned at the Champions Trophy, winning twice but only against eight-ranked Argentina and losing 9-2 to Netherlands, leading to the sacking of coach Asif Bajwa.

Shahnaz Sheikh, Bajwa's replacement, last coached Pakistan in 2003 and has been appointed until the end of the World Cup.

Pakistan's attacking hockey is not matched by depth in defence.

Sohail Abbas' all-time record 279 penalty corner conversions are off-set by his loss of speed and strength on the ball and Tariq Aziz is serving an international hockey suspension for hitting Australia's Robby Hammond in the final of the Commonwealth Games in March.

India chances at the World Cup were dealt a cruel blow last month when ace drag-flicker Sandeep Singh was accidentally shot in the foot by a railway policeman on the Delhi - Kalka Shatabdi Express, leaving India without a quality penalty corner drag-flicker.

India must now rely on captain Dilip Tirkey's powerful hits for corner conversions.