KEY POINTS:
Team New Zealand skipper Dean Barker will go into the America's Cup match with the advantage of having been there before - something that cannot be said of his opponent American Ed Baird.
As most predicted, Baird will helm SUI100 in the match.
But unlike Barker, 34, who
is lining up in his third America's Cup match, this is the first for 49-year-old Baird.
After the sacking of Russell Coutts three years ago, the Swiss syndicate have rotated Baird, fellow American Peter Holmberg and German Jochen Schuemann at the wheel.
Last year Schuemann dropped out leaving Holmberg and Baird to battle it out.
The rumour has always been that if the Swiss believed they had a speed edge, Baird would helm, if not they would go with Holmberg.
Following in the footsteps of Coutts, the most successful helmsman in America's Cup history, is a daunting task for both men.
Baird is a three-time world match racing champion. He was part of Team NZ's successful campaign in 1995, when he was the tune-up helmsman to Coutts.
His other cup campaigns were with Young America in 2000 and Team Dennis Conner in 2003, where he was also backup helmsman.
Baird is seen as having a more conservative style than Holmberg. He is very easy on the boat, very smooth.
He is controlled and doesn't take too many risks in terms of where he puts the boat. He is quite passive in the prestart. In some ways his style is even more passive than Barker.
"The skill of Ed Baird," said Luna Rossa helmsman Philippe Presti on the America's Cup website, "is to be able to sail the boat all the time with good speed. He is difficult to attack because he is always moving. He is good at coming off the starting line at full power.
"Even when he's not on the favoured side, he improves his position by being at top speed. His style isn't overly aggressive. He's a high percentage-type of sailor, who will go for a sure kill, but avoid riskier situations."
Barker should go into the match feeling comfortable. He has squared off against Baird a number of times in match racing events. But more importantly he has been in the America's Cup match before.
He helmed Team New Zealand in the final race of the 2000 Cup against Prada and in the five races against Alinghi in 2003. When they go into the prestart tomorrow morning and the heat comes on he has been there before. That has to count for something.
