Sze Fei-Izzuddin seek China Open momentum for Paris Worlds
In the draw released on Tuesday, the world No. 1 return to Changzhou as top seeds and open their campaign against South Korea's Kang Min Hyuk-Ki Dong Ju.
But the path only gets tougher, with a potential quarter-final clash against China's Liang Wei Keng-Wang Chang, followed by a projected semi-final against world No. 3 Kim Won Ho-Seo Seung Jae of South Korea.
Hot on their heels are world No. 2 Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik, who face Denmark's Rasmus Kjaer-Frederik Sogaard in their opener.
The Popov brothers, Christo and Toma Junior of France, await in the second round, with a possible all-Malaysian quarter-final clash against Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun should the latter progress.
Malaysia will field a total of seven men's doubles pairs in the Super 1000 tournament.
Choong Hon Jian-Haikal Nazri are up against Indonesia's Fajar Alfian-Shobihul Fikri, while Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi take on China's Ren Xiang Yu-Sun Wen Jun.
Nur Azriyn Ayub-Tan Wee Kiong will meet Taiwan's Lee Fang Chih-Lee Fang Jen, while Arif Junaidi-Yap Roy King face compatriots Wei Chong-Kai Wun in an all-Malaysian first-round clash.
In men's singles, Leong Jun Hao will shoulder Malaysia's hopes following the withdrawal of Lee Zii Jia due to injury.
Jun Hao has been drawn to face Japan's Kenta Nishimoto in the opening round — a player he has a 2-2 head-to-head record.
A possible last-16 showdown against world No. 1 Kunlavut Vitidsarn of Thailand awaits should he progress.
In women's doubles, world No. 3 Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah are expected to cruise past compatriots Carmen Ting-Ong Xin Yee in the first round.
Their real test is likely to come in the quarter-finals against Japan's Yuki Fukushima-Mayu Matsumoto, with world No. 2 Nami Matsuyama-Chiharu Shida likely lying in wait in the semis.
Another national pair, Go Pei Kee-Teoh Mei Xing, take on Poland's Paulina Hankiewicz-Kornelia Marczak in the first round.
In mixed doubles, world No. 4 Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei begin against Presley Smith-Jennie Gai of the United States, with the possibility of meeting compatriots Hoo Pang Ron-Cheng Su Yin in the last 16.
However, Pang Ron-Su Yin face a difficult opener against China's Gao Jia Xuan-Wu Meng Ying.
Tang Jie-Ee Wei are drawn in the same half as Thailand's Dechapol Puavaranukroh-Supissara Paewsampran, whom they could meet in the quarter-finals, and world No. 1 Feng Yan Zhe-Huang Dong Ping in the semi-finals.
Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai, seeded sixth, face a tricky opening match against Indonesia's Jafar Hidayatullah-Felisha Pasaribu.
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