Last year's experience could give two-time Canadian champions (from left) Jeanna Schraeder, Renee Simons, Sasha Carter and Kelly Scott the upper hand at this year's world championships. (Paul Chiasson/Canadian Press)

"The future? The stones will decide," is the official tagline for the 2007 women's world curling championships, which begin March 17 in Aomori, Japan.

A delightful nugget of eastern philosophy, sure, but perhaps something was lost in translation.

Lacking the depth of marquee national championships like Canada’s Tournament of Hearts, the women’s worlds annually include several teams whose fates have been decided even before they release their first rock.

This year looks to be no different, with the representatives of lightweight curling countries such as the Czech Republic and China essentially playing for pride against the two superpowers of women’s curling.

"Team Canada and Team Sweden will be the class of the field, and I would be shocked to see otherwise," says Joan McCusker, CBC’s curling analyst and a two-time world champ.

Sweden's (from left) Anette Norberg, Eva Lund, Cathrine Lindahl and Anna Svard will defend the winner's trophy they won at last year's worlds in Grande Prairie, Alta. (Andrew Vaughan/Canadian Press)

While a gold medal doesn’t appear to be in the future of the other 10 teams – no matter what the stones decide – McCusker does caution that ice conditions in Japan, which is hosting the competition for the first time, could have a say in the outcome.

“We’ve seen adverse ice conditions affect the worlds when the event goes abroad,” McCusker says. “A few years ago when Canada’s Jennifer Jones went to Scotland, she got into a situation where the ice was really bad, and that becomes an equalizer.

“But if the ice conditions are anywhere near fair, Sweden and Canada will rule this field.”

Here’s a breakdown of this year’s entries, featuring the highlights of each skip’s resume and a quick take from McCusker, who will provide analysis for the semifinal and final on March 24 and 25, respectively, on CBC-TV.

FIGHTING FOR GOLD

Canada
Players: Kelly Scott, Jeanna Schraeder, Sasha Carter, Renee Simmons, Michelle Allen.
Credentials: Two-time reigning Canadian champion, 2006 world bronze medallist, 2006 Olympic trials finalist.

Team Scott erased any doubts about its status as the top women’s rink in the top curling country in the world by capturing its second consecutive Tournament of Hearts title last month in Lethbridge, Alta. Knocking out heavyweights Jennifer Jones and Jan Betker in the playoffs, Scott became just the fifth repeat Canadian women’s champion, joining Colleen Jones (who won four in a row), Vera Pezer (three), Sandra Schmirler and Heather Houston. Last year’s third-place finish at their worlds debut in Grand Prairie, Alta., was a disappointment, but Scott and company can draw on that experience this time around.

McCusker’s take: “There was a lot of pressure on Kelly Scott last year in Grand Prairie. Her team was young, and they were surprised by a lot of things – the style of play, how the Europeans threw their rocks, the way the ice behaved. But this year’s tournament will be a completely different experience. It’s not in Canada, so there’s a lot less pressure, and they know what they’re going into. Plus, this is a much stronger, more well-rounded team than what we saw a year ago. I think their chances have increased tenfold.”

Sweden
Players: Anette Norberg, Eva Lund, Cathrine Lindahl, Anna Svaerd, Ulrika Bergman.
Credentials: Two-time reigning world champion, reigning Olympic champion, five-time European champion (2001-05).

McCusker’s take: “Team Norberg captured the triple crown in 2005-06 by winning the Europeans, Olympic gold and the worlds. Did they deserve it? Absolutely. They’re that good. When they go into events, they always come out with money. They’re solid from the lead through the skip. Their strategy is excellent, they take risks, they play aggressively and they make a lot of shots.”

PLAYING FOR BRONZE?

Russia
Players: Ludmila Privivkova, Olga Zharkova, Nkeirouka Ezekh, Ekaterina Galkina, Margarita Fomina.
Credentials: Reigning European champion, 2006 world junior champion.

McCusker’s take: “You’ve got to call them a contender at this year’s worlds, which is a real surprise because it’s such a new program in Russia. But this is a team that has stayed together for many years and built on all those experiences. And every year they get closer. This is not just a dark horse. This is a team that could win a medal.”

Team Russia, featuring (from left) Olga Jarkova, Ekaterina Galkina and Ludmila Privivkova, looks to build on its surprise victory at this season's European championships. (Andrew Vaughan/Canadian Press)

United States
Players: Debbie McCormick, Allison Pottinger, Nicole Joraanstad, Natalie Nicholson, Tracy Sachtjen.
Credentials: Two-time reigning U.S. champion, 2006 world silver medallist, 2003 world champion.

McCusker’s take: “Their third, Allison Pottinger, has just come back from having a baby, so they’re just getting their legs underneath them again. But this is a solid team, and they continue to build on their experiences. Pottinger is a very good strategist, and Deb McCormick is a very cool skip - pressure doesn’t affect her. They’re definitely a contender to make it to the medal round.”

HOPING TO CHALLENGE

Scotland
Players: Kelly Wood, Jackie Lockhart, Lorna Vevers, Lindsay Wood.
Credentials: Appeared in 2005 and ‘06 world championships.

McCusker’s take: “Scotland is like Switzerland in that it’s always going to send a good team. Then it depends on how much of a roll they get on. Wood and her teammates are good shot makers, but since Scotland each year assembles a team of the country’s top curlers, they lack the cohesion of a team that has been together for four or five years. They have good players, but they lack that team element.”

Switzerland
Players: Silvana Tirinzoni, Sandra Attinger, Esther Neuenschwander, Anna Neuenschwander, Mirjam Ott.
Credentials: 1999 world junior champion, appeared in 2006 world championships.

McCusker’s take: “Switzerland has some depth in its curling program. It has a number of good teams because it has invested in its curling community, not just in one team, which is what happens with a lot of other countries. Not having two-time Olympic silver medallist and 1996 world champ Mirjam Ott as the skip (she’s listed as an alternate) puts Switzerland at a bit of a disadvantage this year, but it’s a country that always puts together a really good team.”

TRYING TO PLAY SPOILER

Germany
Players: Andrea Shoepp, Monika Wagner, Anna Hartelt, Marie Rotter, Tina Tichatschke.
Credentials: Six-time European champion (1986, ‘87, ‘89, ‘91, ‘95, ‘98), appeared in 2006 world championships.

Italy
Players: Diana Gaspari, Giulia Lacedelli, Giorgia Apollonio, Violetta Caldart, Elettra de Col.
Credentials: 2006 European silver medallist, 2003 world junior bronze medallist, appeared in 2006 Olympics.

Japan
Players: Moe Meguro, Mari Motohashi, Mayo Yamaura, Sakurako Terada, Asuka Yogo.
Credentials: Appeared in 2006 Olympics (as lead for Ayumi Onodera) and ‘05 world championships (as second for Onodera).

Denmark
Players: Angelina Jensen, Madeleine Dupont, Denise Dupont, Camilla Jensen, Ane Hansen.
Credentials: Appeared in 2006 world championships (as lead for Dupont).

China
Players: Wang Bingyu, Liu Yin, Yue Qingshuang, Zhou Yan, Sun Yue.
Credentials: Appeared in 2005 and ‘06 world championships.

Czech Republic
Players: Hana Synackova, Lenka Danielisova, Lenka Kucerova, Karolina Pilarova, Michala Souhradova.