AUSTRALIA stand in Malaysia's way of a second consecutive semi-final appearance at the Women's World Team Championship in Cairo today.

Malaysia's impressive 3-0 win over fifth seeds The Netherlands on Tuesday saw them top Group D and avoid an early meeting with hosts Egypt, who beat the Australians 3-0 to win Group B.

Australia, eight times world team champions, are a shadow of the side who won their last title in 2004 without the services of the Grinham sisters Natalie and Rachael in Cairo.

Malaysia will not get a better chance of claiming their first win over Australia after 3-0 defeats in their two previous meetings in 2000 (group stage) and 2004 (quarter-finals).

Key to Malaysia's hopes of a last four berth will be Sharon Wee and Delia Arnold who will face Donna Urquhart and Lisa Camilleri at second and third-string respectively.
The duo are buoyed following their win over the Dutch with Malaysia captain Sharon setting the pace by beating Annelize Naude 11-8, 7-11, 11-8, 7-11, 11-7 in 54 minutes before Delia sealed the tie with an 11-7, 15-13, 11-4 win over Orla Noom in 40 minutes.

"I knew Annelize would be tough, but I knew I could beat her if I kept my focus. I feel so good. I've done it for myself, for my country, for my teammates and for my coach," said World No 26 Sharon, who has struggled for form much of the year.

"I really wanted to win, it's been a very good day for me. It's good to have the support of my teammates and the crowd. I hope the other girls will go on and do it for the team."

Delia, in only her second appearance at the championship but playing for the first time as she was not used in 2006, is just glad to have done her part.

"There's a lot of pressure playing for your country with all your teammates looking on. It's so different from playing on the (Wispa) Tour when you're on your own. I try not to think about it and just get on with the game. Sharon's win took the pressure off a bit," said World No 32 Delia.

Nicol David's first-string match against former world champion Vanessa Atkinson was rendered academic but the World No 1 still won 11-6, 12-10, 11-1 in 30 minutes for an emphatic win.

In other quarter-final ties, defending champions England face arch rivals Ireland, third seeds New Zealand take on surprise package Hong Kong, who are without their top player Rebecca Chiu, while Egypt meet the Netherlands.

RESULTS -- Group A: England 3 France 0, Hong Kong 2 Spain 1, Hong Kong 3 France 0, Spain 3 Austria 0; Group B: Canada 3 Japan 0, Egypt 3 Australia 0; Group C: Italy 3 China 0, New Zealand 3 Ireland 0, United States 2 Italy 1; Group D: Malaysia 3 Netherlands 0, South Africa 3 Germany 0.