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Published on February 20, 2008

"We expect an easy outing in the first match, but the real test awaits us in the second group match against Japan, which will decide the group leader. Japan enjoy the edge in terms of team strength," Sakrapee said.

"Our task only gets tougher in the quarter-finals when we will face any of the strong Group Y teams - Taiwan, Hong Kong or Vietnam," he said.

The Thailand team consists of Duanganong Aroonkesorn, Porntip Buranaprasertsuk, Soratja Chansrisukot, Salakjit Ponsana, Sapsiree Taerattana-chai, Saralee Thoungthongkam and Kunchala Voravichit-chaikul.

South Korea, Singapore and Cambodia make up Group X while Group Z comprises Malaysia and India. Only the top three from the Asian round will make the cut for the Uber Cup in Jakarta in May.

The team finishing fourth could also find a place in the 24th Uber Cup, if they are higher than Europe's fourth-place finisher.

The Nation