Australia flies out for next month's World Baseball Classic on the back of a series win against Chinese Taipei, boosting confidence ahead of the squad's opening pool game against Mexico in Mexico City

The nine game series against Chinese Taipei wrapped up at Napier Park in Glen Waverley on Thursday, with the home team winning 7-6 in the final game to secure the series 6-2, with one draw

Australia heads to Japan today for two Exhibition Games in Osaka before arriving in Arizona later in the week for a training camp

The Australian squad competing at the second WBC will be announced on Tuesday

Tampa Bay Rays relief pitcher Grant Balfour has been ruled out, but former Boston Red Sox minor leaguer Adam Blackley, who recently signed with Dutch champion L & D Amsterdam, is expected to play

Australia was bundled out of the inaugural WBC in 2006, losing to Italy, Venezuela and the Dominican Republic, but Australian Baseball Federation spokesman Ben Foster said the squad would "soon be at full strength" and confident of pushing deeper into the tournament

"We're a lot happier with our pool this year and not up against the Latin superpowers, like Venezuela and Dominican Republic" he said
"We have Cuba in our pool, but like our chances of surprising them and we'll go hard against South Africa"

Cuba lost to Japan 10-6 in the 2006 final in San Diego
This year's final will be played at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on March 23

The WBC is the only international tournament for national teams that includes professional players from the major leagues of North America and Japan

Foster said the win against Chinese Taipei was valuable experience for Australia's non-major leaguers
"It's important for a lot of our guys, who aren't competing at the major league level" he said
"The World Baseball Classic is a real step up to what they're used to in Australia, so it's vital for us to get some games against some international competition"

Australia plays Mexico on March 8