salivating at the prospect of a match-up featuring America's Cup helmsmen Russell Coutts and Paul Cayard at this year's Brut Gold Cup.

Coutts, sailing Team New Zealand's sleek Black Magic , swept the best-of-nine America's Cup race series. But many felt that he simply had a better, faster boat than Cayard and that a contest in the more evenly balanced International One Designs would make for a more honest assessment.

Of course, each will have to get by respective first round opponents for the match to take place -- the pair are seeded to meet in the quarter-finals -- but that fact did not prevent either from discussing the prospect of a first meeting since their battle off the coast of San Diego.

Coutts, a three-time winner of the Gold Cup -- 1990, '92 and '93 -- and returning to regain the mantle following a one year hiatus, expressed his admiration of his American rival, saying: "Cayard, in the world of match racing is, I suppose, one of the three guys that I really respect. He's a tough competitor and a straight competitor as well and if that match happens it will be a good one.'' Over the years the Kiwi has combined quiet determination with vast knowledge and skills in match racing to reap unparalleled success on the circuit. His reign at number one spanned 22 months -- an Omega World Match Rankings record.

However, he is quick to deflect praise toward his crew, rather than accept full responsibility for such success.

"I figure our strengths have always been, as far as on the match racing circuit, our teamwork and that's not just the sail handling and all the rest of it, but the combination and information that is spread throughout our crew,'' he said.

While Coutts might be seen as the unassuming `alter-boy', Cayard's natural Californian flamboyance shines through on and off the water.

Nevertheless, as with Coutts an inner drive to excel exists and while somewhat playing down his chances, Cayard is here to win knowing to beat Coutts would be an added bonus.

Adding fuel is the memory of the 1992 battle in the Gold Cup final when Coutts came from 2-1 down to take the best-of-five series 3-2.

"Yes, we would enjoy racing Russell,'' said Cayard, atop the balcony at the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club. "We lost to him here three years ago in final and that'd be great. We'll see what happens, whether we make it that far.

"Russell's quiet for sure. Everybody has their own style and he's quieter than I am and he's made that work real well, but it doesn't really mean one style is better than the other as far as once you're out there on the race course.

"At the present I would say Russell has done a little more. I think he's done four or five match races since the Cup and I haven't really focused on that, so we'll see how it goes, but for sure the boats are more even than at the Cup.'' Today will tell the story as to whether the scenario will be played as Cayard has a tough proposition in qualifier Markus Wieser, while Coutts first has to beat Stuart Childerley.