Miguel Angel Jiménez will lead from the front as Europe go in search of the three and a half points they require from Saturday’s singles to win the inaugural EURASIA CUP presented by DRB-HICOM.
The 50 year old Spaniard, who is captaining Europe at Glenmarie Golf & Country Club this week, will face home favourite Nicholas Fung in the opening tie.
Asian skipper Thongchai Jaidee then goes head-to-head with Ryder Cup hero Graeme McDowell in the day’s stand-out tie, before Thomas Björn plays Kiradech Aphibarnrat in the third match.
Prayad Marksaeng becomes the third successive Thai out for Asia when he takes on Jamie Donaldson, with Pablo Larrazábal and Kim Hyung-sung contesting the fifth game.
European youngsters Victor Dubuisson and Thorbjørn Olesen face Indian pair Anirban Lahiri and Gaganjeet Bhullar respectively in the sixth and seventh matches.
Koumei Oda plays Joost Luiten, before his Japanese compatriot Hideto Tanihara takes on Gonzalo Fernandez-Castaño.
Dubai Desert Classic winner Stephen Gallacher and Bangladesh’s Siddikur Rahman have been given the anchor role by their respective Captains.
“The scoreboard, it looks very nice,” said Jiménez. “The players, they are doing the best they can and as a team, also make the best they can; they played very good.
“Thongchai is going to be in the second, behind. I said ‘hey, you don't want to play with me, you are afraid!’
On facing 23 year old Fung, The European Tour’s oldest winner added: “He could be my son!
“A couple years ago, I played with Manassero and with both of their ages added together they don't reach my age.
“Playing with Nicholas, it will be nice. I don't know him very well but we'll see tomorrow. I think it's going to be an interesting match and we are going to have a lot of people with him from Malaysia that will be behind him tomorrow.
“We [have put three Ryder Cup players out first] to put some pressure there at the beginning, it's very important.”
Despite being four points down, Jaidee believes his team still have a chance of winning the trophy.
“Our team played very well today and catch up at some point,” he said.
“I’m really happy with three points today. I think catch up a little bit tomorrow, we try tomorrow and another ten points tomorrow.
“It's out of my hands for singles tomorrow. I think first of all, we would like to thank our team they played very well today.
“I will try my team work and hopefully we do a good job tomorrow.”
