Sudket and Saralee are luckier than the other Thai players - the only strong opponents they face in their group are the world No 12 pair from South Korea, Lee Yong-dae and Hwamg Yu-mi.

The Thai duo, ranked third in the world, beat the Korean pair in the quarter-finals of the Indonesia Open in May, before the Koreans gained sweet revenge by winning the Thailand Open in July.

If the Thais manage to get past Lee and Hwang, they are likely to face the Chinese world No 4 pair, Xie Zhongbo and Zhang Yawen, in the semi-finals.

The Thai and Chinese sides have three wins and three losses in their six encounters, with the Thais losing their latest match in the China Open last month.

Sudket, however, will have his work cut out in the men's doubles, in which he will pair up with Phattapol Ngernsrisuk. They are likely to face Chinese world No 1 duo Fu Haifeng and Cai yun in the second round.

In the women's singles, Boonsak Ponsana's sister Salakjit may encounter world No 2 Xie Xingfang of China in the second round if she wins against Behnaz Pirzamanbein of Iran.

Compatriot Soratja Chans-risukot will take on Iranian Nakisa Soltani in the first round and then veteran Yip Pui-yin from Hong Kong in the second round.

In the women's doubles, Saralee and Sathinee Chankrachangwong moved to the second round with a bye, but their journey may end in the quarter-finals, where the Thais face Chinese world No 2 pair, Zhang Jiewen and Yang Wei. The Thais have never defeated their opponents in previous encounters.

In the men's singles, local ace Boonsak Ponsana has a favourable draw, meeting lower ranked rivals in early rounds. The Thai world No 11 is likely to meet Chinese world No 2, Lee Chong Wei, who has beaten Boonsak in all four meetings, in the quarter-finals.

Poompat Sapkulchananart, meanwhile, faces a Herculean task as the Chinese world No 1 Lin Dan awaits him in the second round.