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As usual, the competition includes four stages, beginning on the Croatian coast, before heading off to Antalya in Turkey, then to Utah in the USA for the first time, and ending in Shanghai, China.

This year, 32 archers will take part in the Grand Final, in men's and women's recurve and compound, with Britain guaranteed a finalist in each discipline, as host nation.

Indeed, Britain has a proud World Cup history in the four years since the tournament was launched. Alison Williamson (Mexico 06), Alan Wills (Dubai 07), Nichola Simpson (Lausanne 08), and last year in Copenhagen, Nicky Hunt and Simon Terry, have all featured in the gala event, winning a bronze and two silver medals between them.

Simon Terry was last year's GB medalist, finishing runner-up in the men's recurve final to Marco Galiazzo of Italy, and these two archers will again be expected to feature among the 'ones to beat'. Simon is in the GB squad that has flown out to Porec for the first World Cup event of the year, along with Larry Godfrey and two World Cup newcomers in Jon Shales and inform teenager Mark Nesbitt.

In the women's recurve squad, Alison Williamson misses out on Porec. Amy Oliver has another World Cup opportunity, joining regulars Naomi Folkard and Charlotte Burgess, while in the women's compound, Nicky Hunt, who finished fourth at last year's Grand Final, joins 2008 silver medalist Nichola Simpson and Ricky Bingham in the GB line-up.

The men's compound tournament in Porec will feature the gold medalists at all four previous World Cup Finals - USA's Reo Wilde (06), Jorge Jimenez of El Salvador (07), Canada's Dietmar Trillus (08) and last year's champion, Sergio Pagni from Italy. But look out for the experienced British trio of last year's world championship silver medallist Liam Grimwood, Chris White and Duncan Busby.

Said Archery GB Performance Manager Barry Eley: "We have a very strong compound squad going out there, and all six of them are capable of doing very well. Obviously with the incentive of Edinburgh, and the Commonwealth Games on the horizon too, there is all to play for, and I am confident that all six of them will be very competitive."

Sara Symington, Archery GB Performance Director, said she also expected the recurvers to be among the medal contenders. "As Barry said about the compounders, so too with the recurve archers, and in particular this is a big opportunity for Amy, Mark and Jon to establish themselves. Mark is only 18, but in wonderful form, and not only does he have the ability, but also the temperament to cope at this level, and I am looking forward to watching his progress."

GB squad: Recurve Women: Amy Oliver, Charlotte Burgess, Naomi Folkard. Recurve Men: Simon Terry, Mark Nesbitt, Larry Godfrey, Jon Shales. Compound Women: Nicky Hunt, Nichola Simpson, Rikki Bingham. Compound Men: Chris White, Liam Grimwood, Duncan Busby.