Australia, the favourites for the CricInfo Women's World Cup arrived in Christchurch today underplaying their favouritism for the event.

Before boarding an internal flight to Dunedin, where they will play two games against Otago women at Carisbrook over the weekend, coach John Harmer and captain Belinda Clark were reserved in their assessment of the Australian side.

The team has just had two days together before flying out to Christchurch, but players have had between four and six games each in the national competition.

"We'll be competitive. Every game is difficult, they can swing very quickly," Harmer said.

Clark said the Australians were looking forward to the tournament and rated themselves "a threat" to win the title while adding that so were New Zealand, India and England.

"We're not going to take anyone lightly," Clark said.

"We're looking forward to getting to Dunedin, we've never been there before," she said.

Australia would be using that time to get itself prepared for the Cup. It had only the two days together in Melbourne and while there have not been the camps and build-up in recent weeks to prepare, there had been match play and also a full winter programme of preparation.

"There was no point preparing in the conditions in Australia. We'll get used to the conditions in Dunedin, and aim to get ourselves set," she said.

The experience of playing most of the games at one venue at Lincoln University was going to be an interesting one.

Harmer said the need to constantly be on the move in India had been a way of keeping the side up from game to game. The expectation of the next match was always there.

Clark added: "It will be interesting and a big difference from India. We seemed to play in every city in the country. But playing it in one place will mean the media and public will be able to support the event because it is all based in Christchurch."

Harmer, with eight players from the last World Cup success, said his side this time was comparable with that in India.

"The players are more mature and know their game a little better, but they might also be four years older in the field," he said.

He was pleased that Zoe Goss had regained her enthusiasm for the game and wanted to be in Christchurch.

"She has performed excellently in our competition and is probably the biggest run scorer this year.

"New Zealand will be tough. They'll probably come up with the spirit we had in India last time," he said.

Australia had gone through something of a post-World Cup low two years ago and had built up again.

"We are justifiably confident we can do it, but two little errors at the wrong time could upset you," he said.

Arch-rivals Australia and New Zealand will open the tournament with a classic match on Wednesday, November 29.

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