Jointly organised by the Thailand Equestrian Polo Association (TEPA) and King Power, the two-day competition will be played over four chukkas and feature four teams from Southeast Asia: Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei and hosts Thailand.

The home side, which is preparing for the December SEA Games, will be spearheaded by Aiyawatt Raksriaksorn, who was instrumental in Thailand A lifting the King's Cup for the fifth time recently. Thailand and Singapore, runners-up at the King's Cup, play in today's curtain-raiser, with Malaysia challenging Brunei in the other match. The winners will go up against each other in tomorrow's final, while the losers play in the third-place play-off.

Apart from rising star Aiyawatt, who underwent three weeks of training with world champion Adolfo Cambiaso in Argentina some time ago, the Thai team includes Aiyawatt's elder brother Apichet, Chanothai Songvanich and Thanasilp Chuewangkham.

Meanwhile Rahim Kemaludin, who also competed in the King's Cup, will try to salvage Brunei's pride in the Gold Cup. Playing in his side will be Pengiran Anak Hj Mohd Basheer Kemaludin, Lt-Colonel Iskandar DP Hj Yahya and Major Hj Huzai PDH Hj Husain.

The visitors, according to TEPA's president Vichai Raksriakson, will likewise use the tournament as a preparation for the SEA Games.

"The experience will be quite valuable for them. When they go up against much stronger rivals in the SEA Games, they will be playing with greater confidence," Vichai said.