Stepney and Forrest captured the respective men’s and women’s singles titles at last year’s event, while Merrien, a winner of the women's singles crown in 2008 and 2012, teamed with Scotland’s Stewart Anderson to win the mixed pairs trophy.

The trio will all be in the field aiming to come out on top again at the Warilla Bowls and Recreation Club.

Thirty-five men and 31 women are poised to play for the two world indoor singles titles, with compatriots uniting to contest the mixed pairs competition.

Participating in the event this year is two of Australia’s most decorated players in Aron Sherriff and Kelsey Cottrell.

Sherriff has been in red-hot form, with recent successes including gold at the 2022 Australian Indoor Championship, Golden Nugget and Australian Open singles, and was recently selected to make his fourth appearance at the World Bowls Championships this year.

Cottrell is a five-time world champion who also won last year’s Australian Indoor Championship and Australian Open singles golds.

Two-time Commonwealth Games men’s pairs champion Daniel Salmon of Wales and Glasgow 2014 women’s pairs gold medallist Colleen Piketh of South Africa are expected to challenge for top honours.

New Zealand’s Katelyn Inch and Andrew Kelly and young Norfolk Island ace Shae Wilson will also be among those eyeing the coveted prizes.

Teaming up with male athletes from countries that do not have a female representative in the mixed pairs event will be Australian bowlers Serena Bonnell, Chloe Morrison, Grace Moloney and Lauren Banks.

Formerly called the World Cup, which only encompassed the singles disciplines, the most recent competition was renamed as the World Indoor Championship and took place in English city Bristol last year.

The event, which is jointly run by World Bowls and the International Indoor Bowls Council, is set to feature representation from 35 nations and run from tomorrow until May 12.