with defending champion Russell Coutts looking to inch closer to a second consecutive title...and adding $30,000 to his bank account.

However, the New Zealander -- who defeated Paul Cayard in last year's final -- faces American Kevin Mahaney in a best-of-five series and will have his work cut out against the rising star, viewed as a legitimate threat to the throne.

Mahaney has much experience sailing in the International One Design (IOD) craft, where he received much of his early training and this may give him a slight edge.

Meanwhile, Coutts admitted that he and his crew were still getting used to the nuances involved with the boats and was optimistic regarding his chances of moving through to the semifinals.

"We've still got a bit of work to do,'' said Coutts, coming off a victory at the World Championships in Perth, Australia, and known for his tactical acumen and dogged determination. "We made a few mistakes against (Makoto) Namba (in the first round).

"Really the trick in these boats is that you have to keep improving right the way through...as long as you don't get knocked out along the way, that's the idea.'' Coutts said that the hunger lingers despite the various success throughout the past few years, ones that have seen him consolidate his position as the world's best match racer.

He added that there was no increased pressure to defend his title nor was he a target for the rest of the skippers, but was hopeful of duplicating the accomplishments of 1992.

"I don't think that they do use me as a target to shoot for,'' he said.

"We're just another opponent. Certainly they probably realise that they have their work cut out, just as we realise it.

"Every time you come back you've got to motivate yourself to try and do well again and I think the motivation is there. We certainly enjoy ourselves in Bermuda.'' One person having an account to settle with Coutts is Australia's Peter Gilmour, who lost the 1990 final to the Kiwi.

The rangy Aussie is seeded second as a part of the lower half of the draw and today faces 1991 winner Eddie Warden-Owen of Wales. He would only face Coutts if both were to reach the final, but this did not stop him firing an early salvo on Tuesday.

"Yeah! we have a few scores to settle. He's obviously at the top end of the programme...we're on the bottom end, so we'd like to get him again in the final and have it go our way.'' First, though, there is the matter of Warden-Owen, largely regarded as the United Kingdom's best yachtsman, and one who has little fear of whomever he faces.

Asked what it would take to oust Gilmour the Welshman replied: "Just like it'll take to beat me...a bit of judgment, a little bit of luck and good team work.

"We know that everything's on (the line) tomorrow. If we don't do well we're on holiday...(but) Bermuda's a nice place to have a holiday.

"Gilmour's a tough competitor, we've had hundreds of match races against one another and it'll all depend on who feels good on the day. We showed against him three weeks ago in Perth, Australia, and beat him twice in two round-robins and I'm sure he wants to get his revenge back tomorrow and we'll be fighting hard to hold our corner.'' Warden-Owen, with a three-man crew of Llew Varney, Peter Warren and Ozzie Stewart, also noted a possible chink in the armour of Gilmour, as the latter has not brought his regular crew along for the event.

"We'll try to put him under pressure from a crewing aspect,'' continued Warden-Owen. "We'll try and keep out of trouble, because Gilmour's well known for flying the old protest flag, so we've got to do our bit and try to sail as cleanly as we can.'' Viewed by many as somewhat of a darkhorse, St. Petersburg, Florida, resident Ed Baird was upbeat about his match against Germany's Markus Wieser, the only remaining qualifier.

A popular author and lecturer, with four world titles in various classes to his credit, Baird had high praise for his opponent whom he viewed as a true gentleman of the sport and a formidable foe.

"I'm really looking forward to sailing against Markus because I haven't done it in about three years now with him,'' said Baird, the winner of yesterday's Bank of Butterfield Charity race for the second year running.

"At that point he was very much of a neophyte on the match racing circuit, so I'm looking forward to that. But more than that he is such a wonderful, friendly and yet very difficult competitor in that even if he destroys us we'll fell good about it, because he is such a nice guy.'' Baird was somewhat unruffled about being saddled with the "darkhorse or underdog'', saying that many people were unaware of the magnitude of his accomplishments.

"I've had a number of successes, but I haven't done anything like the America's Cup or something that's been highly reported in the media.

"I may do that in the future, but the things I've done are my goals and I'm proud of the things that have happened.'' The day's remaining quarter-final pairing has world number five and third seed Rod Davis taking on current Nation's Cup champion Roy Heiner of Holland.

CRUNCH TIME -- American Kevin Mahaney, seen during first round action against local Blythe Walker, has his work cut out against reigning champion Russell Coutts.