The Dubai Tennis Championships could very well come down to a battle between a girl named Maria and a four-time champion named Justine. Which one should be on your fantasy team?

Each week here on "In or Out" we will offer tips on players set to compete in that week's event who could be worth picking, hopefully giving you an edge over your rivals. This week is the Dubai Tennis Championships.

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Group A

Competitors - Justine Henin (BEL), Svetlana Kuznetsova (RUS), Ana Ivanovic (SER), Jelena Jankovic (SER), Maria Sharapova (RUS), Anna Chakvetadze (RUS),Marion Bartoli (FRA).

In: Maria Sharapova

We believe that Maria, as evidenced by her title-winning performance in Melbourne, has rediscovered the magic formula for beating Justine Henin. Despite the world number one's perfect record in Dubai (four titles in four appearances), Sharapova has continued to show the form that swept her to a 6-4 6-0 demolition of the Belgian in Melbourne. As of this stories' publication the Russian hardcourt queen had not lost a match this year, with Maria sweeping through a Tier I draw in Doha. Look for Sharapova to make up for a loss in the final round of the 2006 event to Henin with a very good shout at the title this time around.

Out: Svetlana Kuznetsova

Like her counterpart on the men's tour Nikolay Davydenko, the Russian number one is always an x-factor in any tournament with a strong field, such as Dubai. She can either be bounced in the first two rounds or make it all the way to the final, depending on how she is playing any given week. Despite some very strong performances here in the past (final in 2004 and semis the past two years), something closer to her third-round exit in Doha this week seems more likely. Another thing to keep in mind, Ana Ivanovic is an injury doubt after pulling out of the Doha event with ankle troubles.

Group B

Competitors - Elena Dementieva (RUS), Nicole Vaidisova (CZE), Nadia Petrova (RUS), Patty Schnyder (SUI), Dinara Safina (RUS), Amelie Mauresmo (FRA), Na Li (CHN), Agnes Szavay (HUN), Sybille Bammer (AUT), Alona Bondarenko (UKR), Lucie Safarova (CZE), Francesca Schiavone (ITA), Maria Kirilenko (RUS).

In: Na Li

Aside from a third-round exit in Melbourne, the Chinese number one has been in sparkling form this year as she prepares to be one of the host nation's biggest stars at this August's Beijing Games. Equally impressive as her title at the Gold Coast was her performance this week in Doha, beating Anna Chakvetadze and Sahar Peer on her way to the last four. Nicole Vaidisova is the other solid bet in this strong Tier II group.

Out: Alona Bondarenko

The Ukrainian number one is the only member of this group that doesn't strike us as any sort of a threat to cause upsets or advance past the second round in Dubai. Based on recent performances, first round exits in Paris and Antwerp, we can only advise the Oz Open doubles champion for Fantasy Doubles Tennis, if and when such a thing is invented.

Group C

Likely competitors - Sania Mirza (IND), Ai Sugiyama (JPN), Elena Vesnina (RUS), Anabel Medina Garrigues (ESP), Akiko Morigami (JPN), Eleni Daniilidou (GRE).

In: Ai Sugiyama

Dominika Cibulkova was our original pick after an impressive quarter-final showing in Doha including an upset of Wimbledon champion Venus Williams, but the Slovakian dropped out of the Dubai qualifying draw in part due to her success in Doha. Our default pick is Sugiyama, who did well to reach the last 16 in Qatar before succumbing to Jelena Jankovic. The former world number eight should qualify in Dubai, and could again cause some surprises in the main draw.

Out: Sania Mirza

Normally the Indian number one is one of our favourite sleeper picks out of Group C and she is the only confirmed Tier III player for the Dubai event. But after quitting her first-round match in Doha due to cramps, we have to advise against picking Mirza in another Gulf event.

Group D

Possible competitors - Aiko Nakamura (JPN), Yung-Jan Chan (TPE), Akgul Amanmuradova (UZB).

In: Aiko Nakamura

Even more guess-work is involved in this final category, as anyone who comes out of this group will likely have to make it through the qualifying draw. The only thing that makes Nakamura a good bet is that she did it last week in Doha.

Out - The rest

Figuring out who will make the main draw and who will actually win matches in the rest of this group is basically a crapshoot, so we're not even going to try.

Jeremy Stahl / Eurosport