"Ever since the squad was announced, you wake up and pinch yourself and think 'is this actually happening? Am I going to the World Cup?'," Behrendorff said.

"Now I'm here in England getting ready for the game on Saturday, our first game, it really is starting to sink in. It's something that is really hard to put into words, it's so exciting.

"Even thinking about it right now, the hair on the back of my neck is standing up. Just knowing the enormity of a World Cup, it's going to be a great challenge, so much fun, and I can't wait to be a part of it."

The Tuggeranong Valley product may be thrown straight into the action should he be named in Australia's XI for their tournament opener against Afghanistan at Bristol County Ground on Saturday night.

The defending champions enter the tournament as outsiders, with England carrying the burden of favouritism on home soil - one they responded to with aplomb as they began their campaign.

And 20 years after a Steve Waugh-led Australian outfit orchestrated the unimaginable to clinch the first of a World Cup threepeat, Behrendorff is relishing the chance to do the same.

A World Cup win for the 29-year-old would be one of the finest chapters in a career that has so often been curtailed by injury, one which would further validate Behrendorff's decision to shelve his red ball ambitions to get his body right.

"It's always nice to have a bit of an underdog tag as well. From winning the last World Cup, it's something we want to emulate again," Behrendorff said.

"It's not something that's done too often, to win multiple World Cups. Australia have obviously done it successfully quite a few times now, we've won five already.

"For us to be able to add another World Cup to the Australian side would be unbelievable.

"We've done all the hard work in the preparation phase and I don't think anyone has left a stone unturned. Everyone's preparation has been great."

Behrendorff admits the nature of the tournament is a unique one. The World Cup has been trimmed to 10 teams with a round-robin fixture.

It means Justin Langer must find the balance between playing well enough to win games but also keeping his side fresh for the back end of the 46-day tournament.

But Behrendorff is confident Australia has enough firepower in its ranks to get the job done - no matter which players are in the XI come game day.

"That's something that has been spoken about a little bit. We're fortunate to have guys on the coaching staff as well like Ricky Ponting and Brad Haddin that have played and won World Cups," Behrendorff said.

"There's a lot of experience in the playing group and also the coaching group so it's something we'll be able to draw on throughout the tournament.

"Everyone has been picked in the squad because they're good enough and they're done a great job to get us to this point. To continue doing the work we've been able to do. It's been really positive.

"The feeling in the group is great, everyone knows everyone's preparation has been really good. Everyone knows what they need to do to get the best out of themselves, and we trust each other and back each other 100 per cent."

AUSTRALIA'S ROAD TO THE CUP (all times AEST)

Saturday, June 1: v Afghanistan at Bristol County Ground, 10pm.

Thursday, June 6: v West Indies at Trent Bridge, 7pm.

Sunday, June 9: v India at The Oval, 7pm.

Wednesday, June 12: v Pakistan at Taunton County Ground, 7pm.

Saturday, June 15: v Sri Lanka at The Oval, 7pm.

Thursday, June 20: v Bangladesh at Trent Bridge, 7pm.

Tuesday, June 25: v England at Lord's, 7pm.

Saturday, June 29: v New Zealand at Lord's, 10pm.

Saturday, July 6: v South Africa at Old Trafford, 10pm.

Tuesday, July 9: Semi-final 1 (1 v 4) at Old Trafford, 7pm.

Thursday, July 11: Semi-final 2 (2 v 3) at Edgbaston, 7pm.

Sunday, July 14: World Cup final (winner of semi-final 1 v winner of semi-final 2) at Lord's, 7pm.