Defending WGC-Accenture Match Play champion Hunter Mahan has identified Ian Poulter, Tiger Woods and Luke Donald as the main threats to his crown in Arizona this week.

Mahan heads into the championship having secured the title 12 months ago, but the American is under no illusions as to the size of the task this time around.

"[Ian] Poulter, I think Tiger [Woods] is a great match play player and probably Luke Donald," he told reporters at a press conference.

"Luke is just the ultimate match play player because he's a guy that can easily chip in from anywhere, change the kind of momentum of a match. He's a great putter. No matter where he is, he's never going to be really out of a hole.

"Poults just has a will about him that makes him a good player. And then Tiger is just a great player in general, and he just doesn't like to lose. That's always a great motivator."

Woods has won the tournament three times.