Chiara is preparing to leave for the Olympyski Arena where she will undergo the third and final dress rehearsal before tonight's grand final of the Eurovision Song Contest.

While eager to win, Chiara acknowledges that this year's competition is "still wide open" and the test has been one of the toughest challenges she has had to face.

"This year it's too hard to pick one competitior. In 2005 we knew it was Greece's Helena Paparizou who was the challenge. This year there are some seven to eight entries who deserve a winning spot, just like us," she said.

After years of bashing the Eurovision, it seems most of the countries have chosen to send their best. From the UK roping in acclaimed composer Andrew Lloyd Webber to compose the song, to Germany featuring international burlesque star Dita Von Teese, and Greece sending its hot star Sakis Rouvas.

Norway's wonder kid Alexander Rybak remains the favourite among bookmakers, while the Europrediction 2009, which was conducted by oikotimes.com and has more than 57,000 valid votes, is predicting a tie between Greece and the UK.

Tonight 25 countries will be competing for the coveted trophy, and experts are anticipating a close finish. The votes are being equally split by televoting and national juries in a bid to redress the imbalance normally caused by bloc voting.

The countries will be competing in the following order: Lithuania, Israel, France, Sweden, Croatia, Portugal, Iceland, Greece, Armenia, Russia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia Herzegovina, Moldova, Malta, Estonia, Denmark, Germany, Turkey, Albania, Norway, Ukraine, Romania, the UK, Finland, and Spain.

The Eurovision Song Contest will kick off at 9 p.m. CET and end at 12.30 a.m.