The team of skip Frank Duffy, Michael McCreadie, Tom Killin, Angie Malone and Ken Dickson are hoping for big support at the Braehead Arena in Glasgow.

A good performance by the Scots will increase GB's hopes of a place in the event at the Torino Winter Paralympics.

Wheelchair curling will make its Paralympic debut in 2006.

Scotland have been nominated as the home nation to score points towards a place for Great Britain, and their victory in last year's World Championships in Switzerland has given their campaign a huge boost.

But they will face some tough competition from the sides they beat into second and third place last year, Switzerland and Canada, while Denmark are also expected to be strong.

England and Wales will also field teams in the event although their finishing positions will not count towards GB qualification for Torino.

COMPETITION DRAW Pool A: Scotland, Japan, England, Wales, USA, Norway, Denmark, Russia Pool B: Switzerland, Poland, Canada, Germany, Italy, Korea, Sweden, Bulgaria

England, fourth in Switzerland last year, are skipped by George Windram, with Ian Wakenshaw, Dave Quarrie, Valerie Robertson and Garry Robson completing the squad.

Michael Preston, Clarke Sheils, Ian Jones, Marion Harrison and Peter Knapper represent Wales.

If Scotland achieve the British Paralympic Association criteria, a 10-strong GB squad to prepare for Torino will be picked next month with the final team of five to be selected later this year.

A total of 16 nations will compete in two pools at Braehead, with Scotland up against Japan and England facing Wales in the first series of round-robin matches on Monday.

The tournament will be opened by World Curling Federation president Roy Sinclair and International Paralympic Committee president Phil Craven, while Olympic champion Rhona Martin will deliver the first shot.

The Princess Royal will visit the competition on Tuesday.