Tough galloper Maldivian has emerged as the best chance of causing an upset over odds-on favourite Weekend Hussler in Saturday's Underwood Stakes at Caulfield, but his rider Michael Rodd says it's a big call to make.Rodd will be looking to get going early to try to steal a break over the reigning Horse of the Year and Caulfield Cup and Cox Plate favourite."It's a big call (to say he can beat the Hussler). If Weekend Hussler has no luck and is strung up back on the fence and I'm out of trouble it

Tough galloper Maldivian has emerged as the best chance of causing an upset over odds-on favourite Weekend Hussler in Saturday's Underwood Stakes at Caulfield, but his rider Michael Rodd says it's a big call to make.

Rodd will be looking to get going early to try to steal a break over the reigning Horse of the Year and Caulfield Cup and Cox Plate favourite.

"It's a big call (to say he can beat the Hussler). If Weekend Hussler has no luck and is strung up back on the fence and I'm out of trouble it could happen," Rodd said.

"If I can get out rolling and get away from him - Weekend Hussler did struggle to get past him over 1400 metres two runs back - and this race is at a more comfortable distance (1800m) for Maldivian.

"My bloke doesn't have the turn of foot that Weekend Hussler does and I'd be pretty certain he'll be swinging off us coming to the turn.

"So I'll be trying to make him run into it a little bit earlier, I'll just see how the race pans out. There are other horses who could kick up and if its a fast pace anyway they'll be doing the donkey work for me."

Rodd will be hoping for better luck in running than he had last week when Maldivian ran fourth to Guillotine in the Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes (1600m) at Moonee Valley.

"Coming to the 1000 metres I was following the New Zealander Sir Slick and he fell back in my lap and I had to roll out three deep.

"I was covering ground from then on and I pretty much did the donkey work for the others in a fast run race and for him to go on and win would have been virtually impossible," Rodd said.

"He's pulled up well during the week, I rode him on Thursday morning and he's jumping out of his skin."

"I can't see why he can't back up again he's got a great make-up he's a very good eater and he'll definitely back up.

Trainer Mark Kavanagh said he was very happy with the way the Zabeel six-year-old had trained on since last Saturday.

"He is unbeaten on the back up. He's back to his perfect race weight, so we're expecting a bold showing," he said.

"I can see him striding across and sitting just off the pace, I don't think he will lead.

"There's should be good speed from the former Argentinean horse (Indio Glorioso).

"This race will give us an idea about where he heads after this."

Weekend Hussler, who trainer Ross McDonald says has gone to another level this week, is destined to start one of the shortest priced favourites in a Group One race.

The money kept coming from around the country and he was at $1.60 with TAB Sportsbet and others after as much as $1.75 was bet on Wednesday.