Firm favourite ... Rachael Finch. Source: The Sunday Telegraph

MISS Australia Rachael Finch has toppled close competitors to emerge as the firm favourite to win tonight’s Miss Universe 2009 pageant.

Finch has not shined in earlier polls, but on the eve of the final, she has come out on top.

BetUS.com and Gambling911.com was offering Miss Australia 2009 at +500 or 5/1 odds.

FInch is followed by Miss Mexico at +800 odds and three are tied for +1000 odds:  Miss Dominican Republic (an annual favorite), Miss Ireland and Miss Czech Republic.

Despite the odds, Rachael maintained it was difficult to pick who would be her biggest competition on the night.

“Any one of these women could easily walk away with the title,” she said.

Miss Finch is the roommate of Miss USA who is ranked down at 14/1 .

Pageant experts on a beauty websites have consistently rated Rachael in the ranks of their top 10.

The last time Australia won Miss Universe was with Jennifer Hawkins in 2004.