The country's pairing of Albin Ouschan and Mario He beat the United States' Shane van Boening and Skyler Woodward in last year's final in London.

They will be looking to repeat their success at the Chinese city’s Luwan Arena and ensure Austria become the first nation to successfully retain the title.

Standing between the duo and a place in the second round are Chile’s Alejandro Carvajal and Enrique Rojas.

"We know each other’s game very well and know how to talk with each other," Ouschan, the 2016 world nine-ball champion, was reported as saying by Matchroom Pool.

"We all know at the WCoP everything is possible.

"We will go from match to match and see what happens.

"Every team is a big rival because a race to seven is quite short, but of course the main rivals are the Asian teams, and USA."

She added: "I like Shanghai a lot.

"I have been here a few times for China Open, and of course since I won the China Open in 2015 it's always nice to come back."

Hosts China last tasted World Cup success in 2010, when Fu Jianbo and Li Hewen took the title in Philippines’ capital Manila.

It came three years after the same pair had won the nation’s first title.

China’s A team for the 2018 event is made up of Wu Jiaqing and Liu Haitao, while Dejing Kong partners Ming Wang on the B team.

Van Boening and Woodward are again representing the US.

Bringing together the world’s best players in 32 two-man teams, the World Cup of Pool is one of nine-ball’s biggest events with a prize fund of $250,000 (£184,000/€209,000).

Action in Shanghai is due to run until Sunday (May 20), when the semi-finals and final are scheduled to be held.