Country quota for Kerri, Perišić in the pool play...and don’t forget Olympic champions…

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Alison/Bruno scooped gold here 12 months ago...can they do it again?

A star-studded line-up is guaranteed at the third instalment of the Poreč Major following the announcement of the teams who have secured their place at this summer’s showdown.

Undoubtedly the biggest news in the men’s division is that international soccer star Ivan Perišić will play in the pool play alongside teammate Niksa Dell’Orco as one of the two main draw wildcards. The pair are almost certain to come up against American legends Dalhausser/Lucena based on the two teams' ranking positions.

Perišić and Dell’Orco are one of three Croatian teams in the main draw, with countrymen Silic/Ivan and Karaula/Jercic also guaranteed matches against the best that the beach has to offer between June 27 and July 2.

The second main draw wildcard spot was awarded to rising stars Martin Ermacora and Moritz Pristauz. The Austrian youngsters rose to prominence at last season’s A1 Major Klagenfurt when they reached the round of 24.

Among the 22 other men’s teams who make up the current main draw before they are joined by eight teams from qualification, are Olympic champions and last year’s winners Alison/Bruno of Brazil. Meanwhile Fort Lauderdale Major gold medalists Alvaro/Saymon make their team debut in Poreč, while 2015 champs Brouwer/Meeuwsen are also in the running once again.

Two further Croatian teams, Pribanic/Cickovic and Gracin/Zhukouski, are among the 24 teams set to battle it out in qualification for one of the spots in the main draw. The qualification competition will be hot as the forecast Poreč weather however, with Cuban Olympians Gonzalez/Nivaldo, Latvians Plavins/Regza, Germans Böckermann/Flüggen and Poles Prudel/Kujawiak all vying for a place in the pool play.

Laboureur/Sude were topped the podium at last year's tournament.

In the women’s competition, Kerri Walsh Jennings and new partner Nicole Branagh face a fight to even reach the qualification stage. The hugely experienced American duo will need to come through a country quota match against Day/Hochevar before they can think about challenging for a place on the podium.

Of the 24 teams who have already secured a spot in the women’s main draw are last year’s winners, Chantal Laboureur and Julia Sude. The Germans face stiff competition from a whole host of rivals, including Fort Lauderdale Major champions Larissa/Talita and last season’s Olympic heroes Ludwig/Walkenhorst, who finished fourth here 12 months ago.

Home nation interest will come in the shape of Becic/Radanovic and Rosko/Jurja, while main draw wildcards were handed to Brazil’s Josi/Lili and Austria’s Schwaiger/Schützenhöfer.

For a complete overview of which teams are set to rock the Adriatic coast this year, click here.