YORKSHIRE coach Jason Gillespie is backing Australia and New Zealand to shine in the one-day World Cup, which starts Down Under on Saturday.

Gillespie thinks the Aussies are favourites to claim their fourth title in five tournaments, and their fifth overall, while he also admits he would be surprised to see the Black Caps fall before the semi-finals.

Australia and New Zealand are both in England's pool, with the top four qualifying for the quarter-finals.

The Australians host England in Melbourne on Saturday, while New Zealand entertain Sri Lanka in Christchurch.

"It's hard to go past Australia, who are a strong team, and I've said it all along, I think New Zealand are a really good cricket team," said Gillespie.

"I think they are very well led and their players are very clear on what their roles are.

"I think New Zealand always plan incredibly well for tournaments. You've got to remember they are a country with a population of four million and they do wonderfully well. They squeeze every bit of talent out of all of their players.

"I think some of their players are coming into form at the right time. Their batting line-up is exceptional and their bowlers are very good at delivering team plans.

"Luke Ronchi coming in at seven and belting them the way he does, he's a proper player.

"I think they are the two teams (to watch). It wouldn't shock me at all if New Zealand got all the way to the final and I'd be surprised if they don't make the semis. They are that good."

Former Australia fast bowler Gillespie is also expecting big things during the next month and a half from Yorkshire's overseas duo Aaron Finch and Glenn Maxwell, who are both key men in the Australian squad.

He said: "There's no doubt they could light up the World Cup. We saw Maxwell perform so well in the Tri-Series final at the WACA, getting 90-odd and four wickets.

"It was great that it happened just after we announced him as our overseas player! He's an exciting cricketer.

"I'm a big believer in predominantly Twenty20 cricketers being able to play the longer form of the game. David Warner's a really great example of that and we've seen it a bit with Finchy here.

"I'm convinced that Glenn can play the longer formats of the game as well. He's only going to get the opportunity to play Twenty20 with us, because we have Finchy, but if something happens, we do have the option of using Maxi if needed. He is going to play second-team cricket to keep ticking over and improving.

'We've underachieved in Twenty20 in my opinion at Yorkshire. We made the final in 2012 and did well last year but we couldn't quite get over the line in the last round of group matches.

"We've certainly got good players. We just need to make sure we're going out there with a positive frame of mind."

Maxwell scored a blistering 57-ball 122 in a World Cup warm-up match against India on Sunday.