In the mix: Ng Tze Yong will take on Toby Penty during the mixed team semis.
BEN Lane-Sean Vendy will be out to settle a score against Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik when the two clash in the mixed team semi-finals at the National Exhibition Centre today.
World No. 19 Lane-Vendy have never tasted victory in their past three encounters and are hungry to end the losing streak in front of their home supporters.
It’s not the only match that England will be hoping to steal a point.
They will also be banking on experienced Toby Penty to deliver against Ng Tze Yong.
World No. 11 Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah will also need to be on their toes as Chloe Birch-Lauren Smith are known for their fighting spirit and playing at home will give them an additional motivation.
The Malaysians lost to the world No. 14 in their only meeting in last year’s Sudirman Cup.
Malaysia may also be stretched in the mixed doubles as world No. 9 Tan Kian Meng-Lai Pei Jing are set to lock horns with Marcus Ellis-Lauren Smith who are not ranked too far behind at No. 11.
They need to be wary as Ellis-Smith had beaten them narrowly in three games in their only encounter in the Thailand Open last year.
The only point that could be an easy picking for Malaysia is in the women’s singles when Goh Jin Wei faces Freya Redfearn.
National doubles coaching director Rexy Mainaky is expecting a close affair.
“It will be very close against England. We will have to focus on every match and play our best to win,” said Rexy.
Yesterday, Malaysia defeated Sri Lanka 3-0 in the quarter-finals while England tamed Canada 3-0.
