Ireland, despite the traditionally pessimistic outlook from chef d'equipe Tommy Wade, start as even-money favourites to lift the Aga Khan trophy for the second consecutive year in this afternoon's Kerrygold Nations Cup.
The European gold medal squad of Peter Charles, Jessica Kurten, Kevin Babington and Dermott Lennon are drawn first in to set the pace. But they had the number one slot when they pinned back the championship opposition in Holland last month and will be out to win from the front again today.
Wade refuses to acknowledge that his team will be under any extra pressure on home ground, however. "They're at the game long enough. There are high expectations of us, for sure. The public will be disappointed if we don't win and I'll be disappointed if we don't win."
Wade believes the Americans pose the greatest threat to home side hopes, but Irish pathfinder Peter Charles views the Belgians as the main opposition. "They've come here just to beat us," he says. "The Irish have made them look foolish twice in their back yard [referring to Ireland's back-to-back wins in Lummen] and now they want to beat the European champions." Ladbrokes have quoted Ireland as even-money favourites to retain the title, with Belgium well priced at 4/1. The Americans start at 5/1, Britain are 6/1, France and Germany 8/1 and the Swiss are 12/1.