Dodd and Dredge were the second Welsh duo to win the Cup

The pair won a rain-affected tournament in Portugal a year ago and accept they will start the 24-team event on Thursday as underdogs.

"Our form probably isn't quite as good as we'd like going into our defence," said Dredge.

"But it's an event where you can get fired up and come from nowhere."

Dredge and Dodd were two shots ahead of England's Luke Donald and David Howell and Sweden's Niclas Fasth and Henrik Stenson when the final round of last year's tournament was washed out.

"It was the best rain I've ever watched," said Dodd.

"It would have been nice to have won over four days but we'll take winning over three days."

England are once again represented by Donald and Howell, who are the strongest combination based on world rankings, at ninth and 16th respectively.

Padraig Harrington and Paul McGinley, who won the 1997 title for Ireland at Kiawah Island, also team up.

Many big guns, including world number one Tiger Woods and twice U.S. Open champion Ernie Els, have declined to take part.

Stewart Cink and JJ Henry will represent the United States, with Rory Sabbatini and Richard Sterne playing for South Africa.