"It's a game - whether you are first or last to go in the first round you make your own plan, and for me this is no problem because my first rider is well used to that kind of pressure. What we will do is go for a clear round, and everyone else can watch us doing it!" he said with some determination.

The new €250,000 Agterberg sand arena has met with general approval after today's opening competitions so, after years of battling with bad ground when the weather was unkind, riders can look forward to taking on Rob Jansen's track when the action kicks off at 1.45pm local time. "The FEI is very pleased with the improvements in Rotterdam this year - the all-weather surface may take a while to bed down but it should be really good for tomorrow" said Michael Stone, the FEI's Acting Secretary General.

The draw is as follows: 1, The Netherlands; 2, France; 3, Ireland; 4, Great Britain; 5, Switzerland; 6, Germany; 7, Sweden; 8, USA.

The timetable allows for a 20-minute break between the first and second rounds, so with the re-start scheduled for 3.25pm the prize-giving should take place at 4.45pm and, as always, HRH Queen Beatrix of the The Netherlands will be on hand to watch the action unfold.

All but one of the team manager's named their sides for tomorrow's competition - Ireland's Robert Splaine being the exception. "I want to see some more of my riders in the last class tonight before I make a final decision" he said, but Ehrens has selected Jeroen Dubbeldam, Harrie Smolders, Albert Zoer and Gerco Schroder. Jean-Maurice Bonneau announced that Pierre Jarry will be first into the ring for France, followed by Simon Delestre, Stephane Lafouge and Michel Robert while Britain's Derek Ricketts has selected John and Michael Whitaker along with Nick Skelton and William Funnell.

The Swiss were Rotterdam winners last season and Chef d'Equipe Rolf Grass said that his squad will be out to impress again tomorrow - "because all my competitors could be WEG team members, so they are eager to do well because the final decision has not yet been made" he pointed out. Big things could be expected then from Willi Melliger, Niklaus Schurtenberger, Theo Muff and Pius Schwizer. Germany's Kurt Gravemeier said he is also looking forward to a strong result from his side that includes Lars Nieberg, Pia-Luise Aufrecht, Franke Sloothaak and Marcus Ehning while Sweden's Malin Baryard-Johnson, Royne Zettermann, Maria Gretzer and Rolf-Goran Bengtsson will be hoping to continue to secure their side's improved position. American team manager George Morris however was smiling all the way as he joked that, with yet another all-female US side to chaperone, his hair is "getting shorter and shorter and whiter and whiter as well" but his grin betrayed the confidence of a man who knows that the final place in the draw gives him enough time to assess the problems presented by tomorrow's track which may well give Margie Engle, Candice King, Molly Ashe and Laura Kraut that extra edge.

SAMSUNG SUPER LEAGUE WITH FEI 2006 : LEADERBOARD AFTER ROUND 4 IN LUCERNE:

1. Germany - 31.625
2. USA - 23.5
3. France - 18.0
4. Switzerland- 16.125
5. Great Britain- 13.5
6. Sweden - 10.125
7. Netherlands- 9.125
8. Ireland - 8.0

SAMSUNG SUPER LEAGUE - NATIONAL PRIDE, INTERNATIONAL PASSION!