Moenchengladbach (Germany), Sep 5 (DPA) Title-holders Germany hope to benefit from home advantage when they begin the men's hockey World Cup campaign against India here Wednesday.

Germany believe the bonus of playing in front of their own fans will provide a boost similar to that experienced by the nation's football team at the World Cup this summer.

Coach Bernhard Peters, who was in fact wanted earlier by former German soccer coach Juergen Klinsmann as technical director, said the minimum aim for the Germans was the semi-finals.

That echoed Klinsmann's minimum aim at the World Cup in the summer, which his side achieved with a third-place finish.

"That won't be easy with the high-class teams taking part because I wouldn't count us as among the absolute favourites," Peters said.

Peters regards top-ranked Olympic champions Australia, European champions Spain and Champions Trophy winners Netherlands as among the leading teams vying for the title.

Germany are seeking to defend the title they won in Kuala Lumpur four years ago, but since the competition began in 1971 only Pakistan in 1981-82 in Bombay have managed successfully to defend a world title.

"We are all very tense right now," he said. "But if we can reach the semi-finals, we will be ready to take the next step, and then anything is possible."

Peters has rejuvenated the German team, which won the bronze medal at the 2004 Athens Olympics. Beaten in the Champions Trophy final by the Dutch in Terrassa, Spain in July, his team looked anything but title candidates at last month's four-nation tournament in Hamburg when defeats to Pakistan (2-1), Spain (5-2) and winners Netherlands (2-1) proved a dampener.

However, captain Timo Wess believes the side has now put the indifferent form behind them. "The important thing is that we get off to a good start against India," he said.

Twelve nations are in two pools of six for the 11th edition of the tournament.

Oceania champions Australia are with European champions Spain, four-time world champions Pakistan, Argentina, New Zealand and Japan in Pool A.

Pool B pits together Germany, India, Netherlands, South Korea, England and South Africa.