GREAT Britain and Ireland captain Elaine Ratcliffe believes her side can rise to the occasion and regain the Curtis Cup at Conwy Golf Club.

GB&I, who were whitewashed in the singles and thrashed 17-3 at Quaker Ridge in 2018, face a United States team boasting seven players in the top 35 of the world amateur golf ranking, including the top two in Rose Zhang and Rachel Heck.

Their lowest ranked player, world number 146 Jensen Castle, also won the US Women’s Amateur title earlier this month, surviving a 12-way play-off for two places in the match play stage and beating team-mate Heck in the semi-finals.

However, GB&I have won the last two contests on home soil and can call on the likes of Women’s Amateur champion Louise Duncan, who secured a top-10 finish at the AIG Women’s Open last week, and world number 14 Lauren Walsh.

“Every time you play against America there is no doubt you are playing against some of the best players in the world,” said Ratcliffe, who defeated opposing captain Sarah Ingram in the singles in 1996 as GB&I won in Killarney.

“The task is always going to be a tough one.

“We are generally seen as the underdogs, however the team we have are all exceptionally good golfers and they have all proven they can play at a high standard. With the crowd support we’ve got I think they will even be able to raise their game to a higher level.

“As far as I’m concerned I feel we give a good match to America and come out the other end with the right amount of points.”

Duncan was just a shot off the lead after making a birdie on the first hole of the final round in the Women’s Open at Carnoustie and is relishing another high-profile competition so soon after her eye-catching performance.

“If we’d had a week or two off, those who’d played in the Open, we’d all have maybe had a wee lull, but to keep the adrenaline and excitement levels high has been good and that will carry us through the next few days,” the 21-year-old Scot said.

“There might be a wee target on my back but it doesn’t matter at the end of the day. I’m just going to go out there and play some good golf.

“It’s been a great season for me and to cap it off with the Curtis Cup, I couldn’t have dreamt of it.”