Canada's talent is beginning to line up for the 2015 IIHF World Championship.

The team prepped for Friday's tournament opener against Latvia with a Thursday practice that revealed some insight into potential line combinations.

Captain Sidney Crosby was anchoring the top line flanked by Colorado Avalanche forward and fellow Nova Scotian Nathan MacKinnon on left wing with Dallas Stars veteran Jason Spezza on his right. Philadelphia Flyers captain Claude Giroux centred the second line between the Buffalo Sabres' Tyler Ennis and Dallas sniper Tyler Seguin. Colorado centre Matt Duchene slid between Edmonton Oilers teammates Taylor Hall and Jordan Eberle on the third line.

The fourth line rotated between Canada's remaining five forwards: Avalanche centre Ryan O'Reilly, Flyers Sean Couturier and Brayden Schenn, Dallas' Cody Eakin, Los Angeles Kings youngster Tyler Toffoli.

San Jose blue liner Brent Burns was paired alongside the Kings' Jake Muzzin on the first defence pairing, with Florida rookie Aaron Ekblad and Colorado's Tyson Barrie ont he second pairing. The final pairing will feature two of: Vancouver's Dan Hamhuis, Ottawa's Patrick Wiercioch and Columbus' David Savard.

Arizona netminder Mike Smith is poised to get the start with the Kings' Martin Jones backing up.

Friday's match is the first of seven round-robin matches ahead for Canada over a 12-day span. They will compete for one of four quarter-final spots alongside their other Group A opponents: Germany (May 3), Czech Republic (May 4), Sweden (May 6), France (May 9), Switzerland (May 10) and Austria (May 12).

Watch Canada face Latvia live from Prague's O2 Arena Friday at 10am et/7am pt across the TSN network.