SpacerIt's been more than 50 years since Australia beat New Zealand in a Commonwealth Games water polo competition. And then it was only one game, just an exhibition, to see whether it could become integrated into the Games themselves. That integration failed to materialise and here we are 52 years later, assembling for the inaugural Commonwealth Championships in Manchester, England.

SpacerThere have been many encounters between Commonwealth teams in the past with the most notable being Australia's victory over Canada at the 2001 World Championships in Fukuoka, Japan in the women's division. However, few remember that occasion as Olympic champions Australia succumbed to fifth while the Canadians mounted the podium for the bronze medal. And then there was the series between Australia and Canada men in Canberra three years ago with Canada grabbing the last game off the Aussie Sharks.

SpacerThe Commonwealth tensions rose to their highest when South Africa and Australia clashed in Istanbul, Turkey last year at junior men's level. No doubt, the countries outside the United Kingdom fancy themselves much more highly that the Home Nations. That's probably something to do with the opportunities available for these countries at international level with Australia and Canada making the most of those chances.

SpacerSeveral years ago Australia rated itself as the No 1 nation on the planet when it came to rankings, much to the chagrin of Europeans. The women had won the Olympic crown, the junior women were world champions, the junior men had the silver medal and the men were eighth. Halcyon days indeed! But rankings only last until the next tournament and the women are currently fifth, the junior women second and the men's teams come in at nine and 10.

Just who will win the Commonwealth titles?

Spacer Canada lays the best claim in the women's competition with that bronze medal and Australia the men's crown but what of the other teams? South Africa must fancy itself but lack of international competition may make it tough on the team. However, Canada looks a better bet with some remarkable successes in recent years, including defeating the United States of America. New Zealand plays in the tough Australian National League and has had a long and determined build-up to these championships with matches at home, in Australia, Singapore and Hungary before Manchester. Singapore plays in the Australian League and has improved with every game. Malta is a consistent competitor with a proud record in Europe, albeit at the lower end of the scale. Northern Ireland, Wales and England are comparative unknowns, although their players do get plenty of exposure to European Continental water polo.
Spacer In some comparison to last year, the Canadian men have eight players who competed in Fukuoka so that solid base could come in very handy here. Australia, which has undergone a facelift since Sydney in 2000, has a young team with only seven from last year's line-up. These are two of the most experienced teams in the tournament but as Australian head coach Erkin Shagaev said: "Anything can happen. We are taking this tournament seriously." On the other side of the fence the women's competition will see Canada desperately wanting to upstage the Olympic champion. With a new coach and six players from last year's Worlds, it will be still hard to beat.
Spacer The Aussies have only three players from the Olympic team on hand  Yvette Higgins, Jo Fox and Bronwyn Smith (nee Mayer)  and only five from last year's Fukuoka Worlds. However, like some of the main teams, with hectic European schedules this year, the Aussie women have rested some of their stars in readiness for the assault during the rest of the year. It's also an economic move as players are not being funded in non-Olympic years. Australia will still have Olympic coach Istvan Gorgenyi at the helm and expects the team to perform as it is filled with youngsters who have played in the past four world junior finals.
Spacer South Africa, England and Northern Ireland may find the standard of the Aussies and Canadians very high but the exposure to two of the top five teams in the world will be immense.
Spacer From an Australian point of view, players from five countries will play in Manchester who have contested the National League Down Under. Ted Bader from Canada plays for Balmain Tigers, The Kiwi Stingrays and Singapore are teams in their own right and Darren DeBruyn plays for Perth Torpedoes when not in his native South Africa. And then there's the Aussies!