Murphy will be one of 140 of the world’s best bowlers who will take part in the championships which start today, Wednesday and continue through until Sunday, December 11.

World number four, Murphy, now from the Cabramatta Bowling Club, will line up in the pairs (with Natasha Van Eldik) and skip the fours (with Natasha Van Eldik, Rebecca Quail and Lynsey Armitage).

And she will be keen to add more silverware to her trophy cabinet having previously won gold and bronze in the pairs at the 2007 and 2009 championships.

Considered to be “an old person’s sport” the star-studded Aussie team will amazingly have an average age younger than that of the Australian cricket team and will prove hard to beat.

The event will feature 15 men’s teams and 13 women’s teams from all manner of Asia Pacific nations – from Japan to Samoa to the USA and Canada!

Macau has only submitted a men’s team and the Chinese women’s team is a late cancellation due to immigration not granting their visas.

Australia’s all-star line up for the event includes Common-wealth Games medallists and world number two Bret Wilkie, number four Murphy and Kelsey Cottrell (number eight in the world) and the 2010 World Champion of Champion Aron Sherriff (ranked number five in the world).

The Aussie women will face some stiff competition with the field including current world number one and reigning World Champion of Champions Jo Edwards, who hails from New Zealand, and which also includes teammate Val Smith (world number three);  Sita Zalina Ahmad from Malaysia (world number five);  Jan Kahn (NZL) at world number seven; Philippines’ Rosita Bradbon (world number 10); Tammy Tham (world number 10) from Hong Kong and Litia Tikoisuva from Fiji currently ranked world number 12.

After dominating the last Asia Pacific Championships held during 2009 in Kuala Lumpur with a medal haul that included two gold, two silver and three bronze from eight events, the Australians will be eager to once again perform well on the international stage – especially on home turf.

The 2011 Asia Pacific Championships to be played at Lockleys Bowling Club and Holdfast Bay Bowls and Croquet Club in Adelaide is a precursor to Adelaide hosting the World Bowls Champion-ships in 2012.

Participating countries

Men’s teams: Australia, Brunei, Canada, China, Fiji, Hong Kong China, Japan, Macau, Malaysia, New Zealand, Norfolk Island, Philippines, Samoa, Singapore and United States of America.

Women’s teams: Australia, Brunei, Canada, Fiji, Hong Kong China, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Norfolk Island, Philippines, Samoa, Singapore and United States of America.