Internationals hope to conjure up Presidents Cup win

MONTREAL, Sep 30 (Reuters) - Captain Gary Player said his team will have to conjure a rabbit out of the hat if the Internationals are to prise the Presidents Cup away from the United States.

But trailing the US 7 { to 14 { going into today's singles the International team will need to produce some far more spectacular magic today if they are to pull off a Houdini like escape and claim the Cup.

''We'll have to pull the rabbit out of the hat,'' said Player.

''Well try to come out with the best possible players we can at the beginning and it's exciting that Tiger (Woods) will be playing Mike (Weir).

''I think this will cause a lot of excitement. The odds are stacked against us.'' With 12 points up for grabs in today's last-day singles, the US need only three wins to claim the trophy for a fifth time.

In six previous Presidents Cups, no team has ever come from behind on the last day to take the title while the International team has never beaten the US outright in singles play.

Player said he will send out his best men early in a bid to gain early momentum and hopefully ride it to an historic comeback victory.

''We need three-to-five horses out of the gate and we need ups and we need wins,'' said Australia's Stuart Appleby. ''It is a full-on assault, every player needs to find a way.

''The dice is going to have to roll our way. We are going to have to pull some good numbers.

''The odds are not in our favour. We know that and we have to be more aggressive. We need to put pressure on early so it makes the rest think there's something going on up front.'' South Africans Rory Sabbatini and Ernie Els will be first out of the gate for the internationals, taking on Scott Verplank and Lucas Glover respectively.

But it will be up to hometown favourite Canadian Mike Weir to provide the Internationals with the biggest emotional lift when he faces off against world number one Tiger Woods.

Weir and Woods will be the fourth pair to tee off in a match upon which the Internationals miracle comeback hopes will hinge.

''We probably have to get up early in some matches,'' said Weir.

''I'm sure some better players are going to go out first to try and get some points on the board.

''But we have a big hill to climb.'' REUTERS BJR AS0933