KUALA LUMPUR, June 17: Olympic Champions Australia are bidding to make it three in a row when they take to the field at the Azlan Shah Cup hockey tournament beginning here on Sunday.

The Australians have won the last two editions and are odds-on favourites to add a third consecutive title to their collection, but they are expected to face stiff competition from an in-form Dutch side.

The Australians are the current top ranked team in the world and they are determined to stay on a winning track as they head towards the World Cup in Germany to be played from September 6-17.

The Netherlands are making their comeback at the annual Azlan Shah tournament — which features seven of the world's top ten ranked teams — after a 10-year absence.

The Dutch are ranked three in the world, after Australia and Germany, and are seen as leading contenders for the World Cup title in September. Germany is not fielding a side for the Sultan Azlan Shah trophy.

The last time Australia and the Netherlands met was at the Champions Trophy in Chennai in December last year when the Aussies ran out 3-1 winners.

Australian head coach Barry Dancer said that the Azlan Shah, which the Aussies also won in 1983, 1985 and 1998, was an important tournament as it provided a high-profile outing for the teams.

“So naturally we are very serious about the tournament and the timing is perfect for us to fine tune our squad for the World Cup Finals in September.”

The Australians find themselves in Group A along with India, South Korea and Malaysia, while the teams in Group B are Netherlands, Pakistan, Argentina and New Zealand.

Asian Champions India, winners of the Azlan Shah in 1991 and 1995, are looking to overcome a series of disappointments in the international arena over the last two years.

The trophy sees Vasudevan Bhaskaran, who last coached the team for the 2000 Sydney Olympics, back at the helm, having taken over from Rajinder Junior two months ago. He was also the coach when India won the tournament in 1995.

Australia, Netherlands, Pakistan and South Korea would pose the biggest threat for the title, he said.

Schedule (all times in PST):

June 18: Argentina v New Zealand (0530); Australia v India (1200); South Korea v Malaysia (1400).

June 19: Pakistan v Netherlands (0530); South Korea v Australia (1200); India v Malaysia (1400).

June 20: Netherlands v Argentina (1200); Pakistan v New Zealand (1400).

June 21: India v South Korea (1200); Australia v Malaysia (1400).June 22: Pakistan v Argentina (1200); Netherlands v New Zealand (1400).

June 23: Semi-finals.

June 24 and 25: Classification and final matches.—AFP