Allenby and Appleby - can win it for Australia.

By David John

Sky Bet's Odds Compare All Prices

BETTING BOX
FIXED ODDS
	2pts e.w. Australia at 14/1 (1/4 1,2,3,4,5 general).	Format should suit and good friends should gel nicely.
	1pt e.w. South Africa at 28/1 (1/4 1,2,3,4,5 Boylesports, Sky Bet).	Played together before so bags of experience and should prosper.
	1pt e.w. Canada at 175/1 (1/4 1,2,3,4,5 Boylesports).	Promising combination and pick of the big prices.

A 'home' win looks on the cards in this week's World Cup at Mission Hills with England and Ireland heading the betting as both field very strong teams.

The former have the uber confident Ian Poulter and Ross Fisher flying the flag and with both bagging titles inside the last month, it is understandable why bookies go no bigger than 11/2 as they try and avoid a big patriotic punt.

Ireland's hopes fall to Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell and the focus is going to be almost solely on the youngster.

He obviously has to deal with the disappointment of last week's outcome to the Dubai World Championship and the Race To Dubai but equally, the 20 year old's boundless enthusiasm should stand him in good stead.

Fatigue must be a slight concern too considering he has been in the firing line in his last two events and there is not a great deal margin for error at the 11/2 mark.

Defending champions Sweden field the same team in Henrik Stenson and Robert Karlsson and although Karlsson showed a tremendous return to form last week in Japan, Stenson put up a modest display in Dubai and looks a weakish link at the moment.

Spain are quite interesting at 9/1 with Sergio Garcia finally finding some form with the putter and Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano a reliable partner.

They play on a course designed by Jose Maria Olazabal and Garcia has made a point of having a quiet word with the latter to get a few pointers on strategy.

Australia are next in the betting at 14/1 and have the potential to be a force.

Robert Allenby and Stuart Appleby team up for the first time as they go for a fifth win in the event and the two players from Victoria look a useful combination.

Both have been close friends throughout their career and Allenby had no hesitation in selecting Appleby to partner him in the event.

"If we play half-decent, we'll have a good chance and I expect good things," Appleby said as both bring some useful recent form to the table.

The latter has not been great in 2009 but at least got his act together in the recent JBWere Masters when finishing inside the top 10 behind Tiger Woods.

Allenby is not everyone's cup of tea and he should liven up the European Tour next season where he will be playing far more tournaments.

He has managed to upset Anthony Kim and then had a swipe at PGA Tour players in general, suggesting they have life far too easy.

In between outbursts, his game has looked sharp as he played as well as anyone at the World Match Play and followed up with solid efforts at the HSBC and in Dubai.

This week requires a certain amount of aggression and that suits Allenby just fine so hopefully he and Appleby can get plenty of birdies flowing.

I am going for experience as well with South Africa and will suggest them once again after tipping them 12 months ago.

They were 14/1 for victory in 2008 on the way to a T7 and look well worth another chance at twice the price.

Richard Sterne and Rory Sabbatini team up for a third occasion and that should count for a fair amount in an event where plenty of chopping and changing occurs for teams from year to year.

They got going a bit late 12 months ago but did finish with 67-67 over the weekend and although both players may have ideally been in better form, Sabbatini makes his sixth appearance here and knows what it takes to win having landed the event in 2003 with Trevor Immelman.

This is definitely the time of year to catch Sterne too and I would not be surprised to see him step up on recent efforts.

Those hoping for a potential shock could do worse than side with Canada at 175/1.

Half of their team is the exciting Graham DeLaet, who looks sure to make a name for himself in 2010.

I had him and Stuart Anderson in the back of my mind after they won the qualifier in Estonia and their chance has been virtually written off in favour of the more established names.

But they don't lack confidence and Anderson revealed: "When Graham and I are both on form, we can definitely contend," while DeLaet added: "We have a great chance to really compete when we get there".

DeLaet and Wes Heffernan opened up 12 months ago with a 64 on the way to a respectable T13 and another campaign under DeLaet's belt where he topped the Canadian Order Of Merit (Anderson fourth) and also won on the Sunshine Tour, makes him a dark horse in terms of players to watch this week.

There is little in terms of pressure apart from their own expectations and I reckon they have what it takes to make a it into the mix on Sunday.