KEY POINTS:
You wouldn't need to be a decoding expert to work out the rationale behind the group stage of this year's World Cup. If all goes to plan, organisers hope that associate member sides such as Canada, Bermuda, Scotland and the Netherlands will take just 12 days to join the likes of Bangladesh, Zimbabwe and Kenya in making an early exit.
That will leave just the eight major test-playing nations in the race - half of whom will have already suffered one loss after their respective heavyweight bouts in the opening stanzas.
These early tournament skirmishes might not appear crucial but, with points against fellow qualifiers allowed to be carried through to the second round, they can mean the difference between making or missing out on the semifinals.
The first genuine contest arrives when the West Indies face Pakistan at Sabina Park in what is poised to be an enormous occasion for the under-resourced confederation.
The hosts, eighth seeds after a lean run over the past seven years, loom as a distinct danger in their home environment, having improved their overall game during the past season. Beaten finalists at the Champions Trophy last year, they knocked over Australia in a tri-series at Malaysia and will head into the World Cup with a capable squad, led by the world-class talent of Brian Lara.
As well as a top order that boasts Lara, Chris Gayle, Ramnaresh Sarwan and Shivnarine Chanderpaul, the 2004 Champions Trophy winners will have plenty of bowling options in Dwayne Bravo, Corey Collymore and Jerome Taylor.
Pakistan, winners in 1992, have included paceman Shoaib Akhtar, Mohammad Asif and Umar Gul in their squad despite concerns over their fitness, and have received permission from the ICC to replace the trio should it become necessary.
Ranked No 4, Bob Woolmer's side have a history of running hot and cold when away from home, but should be well served by a batting line-up that includes Inzamam ul-Haq, Younis Khan, Mohammad Yousuf, Shoaib Malik, Abdul Razzaq and Shahid Afridi.
The second top-ranking match will pit this season's tri-series champions - England - against this summer's Chappell-Hadlee Series winners, New Zealand, in a game that could be crucial for two of the tournament's underdogs.
Both squads are facing major selection dilemmas in the wake of their unexpected successes.
England have to work out how to slot Kevin Pietersen back into a batting line-up that performed so well against Australia, a situation that could yet turn the blow-torch on Ian Bell or Andrew Strauss. Talismanic Freddie Flintoff is another potent weapon in their arsenal.
New Zealand have a similar conundrum since the rebirth of Craig McMillan and the emergence of Peter Fulton. The return of Jacob Oram means someone - maybe even Scott Styris - misses the cut.
The next game of major billing will see 1983 champions India square off against 1996 winners Sri Lanka, in what potentially could be a powder-keg of a first-round match, given the talent on offer.
India have included Irfan Pathan and Yuvraj Singh in the squad despite questions over their fitness, and will at least be able to fall back on plenty of other quality bowling options - among them Zaheer Khan, Shanthakumaran Sreesanth, Ajit Agarkar, Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh. And that's not even mentioning the batting line-up featuring Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, Rahul Dravid and Sourav Ganguly.
But, on present form, Sri Lanka have a more-than-capable batting line-up and a superior bowling attack, buoyed by the presence of Muttiah Muralitharan, Chaminda Vaas and Lasith Malinga. The feeling right now is that, anything Tendulkar or Sehwag can do, so too can Sri Lankan batsmen such as Sanath Jayasuriya, Kumar Sangakkara and Chamara Silva.
The final major clash of the first round may also be the most keenly anticipated, particularly now South Africa have overtaken Australia on the ICC ODI rankings to set up a 1 vs. 2 showdown.
Australia, talked up as an invincible combination during their hot run through the Ashes series, will go into the World Cup on the back of five consecutive ODI losses - two against England and three against the Black Caps.
However, with the talismanic Ricky Ponting back in charge and Adam Gilchrist and Michael Clarke restored to the line-up, Australia will at least begin the tournament with plenty of batting strength.
Their main concern will be a bowling attack that couldn't defend back-to-back totals of 336 and 346 at Eden Park and Hamilton, despite carrying most of the personnel selected for the Caribbean.
South Africa may well sense an opening, given their world-record chase last year - and the fact that they'll start the tournament with the memory of a 3-1 win over Pakistan fresh in their minds.
The new world No 1 seeds have a good mix of experience and youth in the batting line-up, but could be exposed on the bowling front if they continue with a plan to use Jacques Kallis as their fifth option.
