Sweden, represented by the in-form Robert Karlsson and Henrik Stenson - the two highest ranked players at Mission Hills this week - will start as favourites for the title. But the fickle nature of the tournament's format and team golf events generally mean any number of countries have the potential to take home the silverware.
As last year proved, it's not always the highest-ranked players who come to the fore. Then it was the highly fancied English duo of Justin Rose and Ian Poulter that flattered to deceive, finishing well short of the play-off between the untried Scottish pairing of Colin Montgomerie and Marc Warren and the United States (Boo Weekley and Heath Slocum), arguably the surprise package of the tournament.
Nevertheless, it's hard to argue with the Swedes' credentials. Karlsson, who collected his first European Tour Order of Merit title after a standout season where he won twice and claimed three top-10 finishes in the major championships, excels in team events. This was evident during the Ryder Cup in September where he was one of the few Europeans to shine at Valhalla.
'I think it's a good pairing,' said Karlsson of his partnership with world number 11 Stenson. 'We have had only one chance to play together before, in the Ryder Cup, and that worked well.'
Compatibility, especially in the much tougher foursomes (alternate shot) format, which will be played on the second and final day, is crucial to any team looking to make a challenge. And for that reason, the Indian team of Jeev Milkha Singh and Jyoti Randhawa are expected to feature prominently.
Although adversaries on the course since their junior days, the duo are great friends off it and know each other's games inside out. Surprisingly, this will be their first outing together at the World Cup. But with Singh back inside the world's top 50 after his victory at the Barclays Singapore Open and Randhawa starting to show the kind of form that won him back-to-back Hero Honda Indian Opens in 2006 and 2007, they represent Asia's best hopes - along with hosts China.