Padraig Harrington is hoping to challenge compatriot Seamus Power over the final nine holes this week as the duo aim to secure a medal for Ireland at the Olympic Games in Rio.
The three-time Major winner, who is 167 places ahead of Power in the Official World Golf Ranking, will represent Ireland alongside the Web.com Tour regular when the first round begins on Thursday.
World Number 128 Harrington conceded that, while he’s hoping for a showdown between the two on Sunday, some research into the man from Waterford was required before linking up with him in Brazil this week.
"I know of Seamus, but if I bumped into him here I wouldn't know who he was," Harrington said during last month's 100th Open de France.
"I had a look at his performances over the last two years and he's been playing really nice golf. He’s been very consistent, with a lot of top tens and top 20s. It looks like the guy can play, that's for sure.
"I know it's not a team event, but I'd be hoping that the two of us have a chance coming down the last nine holes. At that stage it's all for yourself, but up until that point I'd be delighted if the two of us are five shots clear of the field on Sunday. That's the way you look at these things."
Power is currently ninth on the money list on the Web.com Tour, with the top 25 at the end of the season earning a card for the US PGA Tour.
The 29 year old hadn’t given the Olympics much thought until receiving a phone call from Irish captain Paul McGinley in June.
"Paul called me out of the blue," Power told Golfweek. "He said that Rory [McIlroy] was going to announce that he's out, and then they kind of knew Graeme wasn't going to go, so I was first reserve.
"But even then, Paul told me Padraig is definitely going to go and Shane [Lowry] is leaning heavily towards going."
Six days later Lowry followed McIlroy in opting out of the Games and Power's place was sealed when Paul Dunne was unable to overtake him in the Olympic rankings.
The accountancy graduate from East Tennessee State University is likely to be an outsider for a medal, but says he’s setting the bar high for himself in spite of his large odds.
"There are only four possibilities - you win gold, silver, bronze or you don't win a medal," added Power, who joined Harrington and McGinley in a trip to watch the table tennis in Rio on Monday evening.
"So you might as well aim high. There's no point in coming down here and not expecting to win a medal.
"I know people who don't know much about me probably think that's crazy. That's just how I view it, so I've got high expectations for myself."
