The gallus swagger, the bravado, the chest puffed out like a gorilla at the height of the mating season?

It could only be Ian Poulter. Or this correspondent when he's finished filing his copy. No, it's definitely Ian Poulter. He may not be everybody's cup of tea but, when it comes to the Ryder Cup, you can't knock the 36-year-old from Hitchin.

He talks the talk and walks the walk and his cocky, confident outlook was illustrated perfectly at Celtic Manor two years ago when he declared to European team captain Colin Montgomerie that he would deliver a point in the final day singles. He remained true to his word and his 5 and 4 demolition of Matt Kuchar, which maintained his 100% record in the one-on-one ties stretching back to 2004, helped the hosts to overall victory.

"I wasn't thinking about the consequences when I said that," admitted Poulter yesterday ahead of this weekend's contest at Medinah. "I said it for the simple reason that I felt my game was good enough and I was going to be really, really tough to beat. I went out there and delivered."

This week's Ryder Cup will be the fourth of Poulter's career, the third in succession, and the 11-time European Tour winner is desperate to deliver again. From 11 ties he has played, Poulter has won eight. He has certainly let his clubs do the talking over the years in a lively arena that he clearly thrives in. Yesterday, he was talking up his passion for this exhilarating sporting event.

Like many of Europe's players these days, Poulter has a base on American soil but just because he spends much of his time Stateside, don't think for a second that the competitive fires and the rivalry has been tempered.

"The Ryder Cup means too much," said Poulter, who has always flourished in the man-to-man format having won the World Matchplay title while playing for Great Britain & Ireland in the Vivendi Seve Trophy. "It means too much to Europe and to us for it to ever lose that edge. This event is unique. It's not like we don't like each other but there is that divide [between Europe and the US].

"We are all good friends on both sides of the pond. But there's something about the Ryder Cup which kind of intrigues me. You can be great mates with somebody but, boy, do you want to kill them in the Ryder Cup. It's great, it's like passion I've never seen before and I love it. I love that chance to be able to go out there and beat one of your mates."

Much has been made in the frenzied build-up here about the targeting by America's players of Rory McIlroy. As world No.1, the young Northern Irishman is in the firing line. Take out McIlroy and we'll win the cup seems to be the popular opinion of those in stars and stripes.

"I think there are 12 bull's eyes on all of our backs this week," added Poulter, who finished ninth at Medinah in the 2006 US PGA Championship. "I don't think you can single out any one player. This is the Ryder Cup and we are all targeted. They [the US] all want to get their hands on that trophy. We have been very dominant in the Ryder Cup over the last 10 years and they want to turn it around. I know Rory is world No.1 and he's played some incredible golf over the last year but I don't think it's an issue for him."

The fact that Poulter has used the word "kill" in the build up to this Ryder Cup will no doubt crank up the atmosphere to an even more furious level and you can bet your boots the salivating red tops will have a field day. We've had the 'War on the Shore' and the 'Battle of Brookline' down the years. Whether this week becomes a 'Massacre at Medinah' remains to be seen.

When Paul Casey used the phrase "we properly hate them" after Europe had dumped the US at Oakland Hills in 2004, the Englishman whipped up something of a storm on the other side of the Atlantic and took plenty of barracking from American fans in the months that followed. Poulter has never been one to bite his lip and keep his opinions to himself. If his words add some more spice to the occasion, then he'll lap it all up. This is not a popularity contest, after all.

"I guess I'm one of those that are going to be out there enjoying the electricity. Chicago is a great sporting city and this is going to be a very loud week," he said. "I would expect them [the spectators] to be very vocal. It's going to be intimidating and we're all ready for that. For me it all adds to the adrenaline rush. You should embrace that and make it inspire you.

"I love this event more than any other event in the world. I get very proud to put this shirt on and have the crest on my chest. It makes me want to give it my all. I was transfixed back in 1993 watching my first Ryder Cup and things haven't changed."

In practice on Tuesday, Poulter teamed up with fellow Englishman Justin Rose, with whom he partnered three times in 2008, and the pair were "trounced" by Luke Donald and Lee Westwood who had a 13-under 59 in a fourball, better-ball hit-about.

Poulter was out with Rose again yesterday as the meticulous preparations to tomorrow's opening session of foursomes and fourballs continued.

"Friday morning is going to be key," added Poulter. "Both teams want to come out and make a statement. It's important to get out of the blocks very, very quickly and, for us, we want to keep their crowd as quiet as possible."

Poulter will be hoping he's the one making all the noises when the action finally starts.