Denmark skipper Andersen led his country to world success in 2006 and Bjerre was also in the side when they surrendered their crown in somewhat controversial circumstances as Poland triumphed on home shale last year.

Both Panthers men are again named in Jan Staechmann's Danish line-up for the 2008 competition which gets under way on Saturday.

Denmark are up against Great Britain, Sweden and the Czech Republic in Event Two at Coventry on Monday, before having home advantage for the latter stages which will be played out at Vojens.

Swales said: "I can't see anything other than a straight fight between Denmark and Poland for the title.

"Just as last year they strike me as the two strongest teams and I have a sneaky suspicion it will be the Danes that come out on top this time around."

SPEEDWAY WORLD CUP TEAMS

Event One (Saturday - Leszno, Poland)

Australia: Jason Crump, Leigh Adams (c), Ryan Sullivan, Davey Watt, Chris Holder.

Russia: Denis Gizatullin (c), Grigory Laguta, Roman Povazhny, Artem Laguta, Emil Sajfutdinov.

Hungary: Matej Ferjan, Sandor Tihanyi (c), Jozsef Tabaka, Norbert Magosi, Laszlo Szatmari.

Poland: Krzysztof Kasprzak, Rune Holta, Tomasz Gollob (c), Jarek Hampel, Wieslaw Jagus.

Event Two (Monday - Coventry, England)

Great Britain: Scott Nicholls (c), Chris Harris, Lee Richardson, Simon Stead, Olly Allen.

Sweden: Fredrik Lindgren, Peter Ljung, Andreas Jonsson (c), Jonas Davidsson, Daniel Nermark.

Czech Republic: Matej Kus, Ales Dryml (c), Adrian Rymel, Lukas Dryml, Lubos Tomicek.

Denmark: Nicki Pedersen, Niels Kristian Iversen, Kenneth Bjerre, Hans Andersen (c), Bjarne Pedersen.

* Race-off (for teams finishing second and third in both events) and final are at Vojens, Denmark.




REGULAR guest Ryan Fisher will line up for Panthers again tomorrow night.

The Edinburgh man has been booked to make his fifth appearance of the season for the Showground side when they host Wolverhampton in a crucial Elite League clash. Premier League riders are only permitted six guest meetings in the top-flight in a whole year.

Panthers team boss Trevor Swales said: "Ryan has helped us out so many times this season that I will be eternally grateful to him.

"He has done nothing wrong and a hell of a lot right for us. Ryan was using a borrowed engine in his only previous appearance at the Showground and I feel we owe him another home meeting."

This is Panthers' last home meeting of the month.