PETALING JAYA: Mixed doubles shuttlers Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei need a big win to restore confidence as the country's top pair.
And they will get a chance to do it in the Japan Open starting tomorrow in Tokyo as the are likely to take on All-England champions Guo Xinwa-Chen Fanghui of China as early as the second round.
Tang Jie-Ee Wei have beaten Xinwa-Fanghui in their past meetings in the China Masters and Hong Kong Open last year but the former had showed marked improvement en route to stunning teammates Feng Yanzhe-Wei Yaxin to capture the biggest title in their careers so far in the All-England in Birmingham in March.
Doubles coaching director Rexy Mainaky believes that a good showing in Japan will boost the pair's confidence.
"Tang Jie-Ee Wei's preparations have been good and they are ready for this tournament," said Rexy.
"They could face the All-England champions in the second round and this will be a tough challenge for them but if they can overcome this pair, it will give them a confidence boost."
The world No. 4 Tang Jie-Ee Wei should have no problems getting past Canada's scratch pair Kevin Lee-Josephine Wu in the first round while Xinwa-Fanghui are also the favourites in their opening match against Indonesia's world No. 14 Jafar Hidayatullah-Felisha Pasaribu.
Tang Jie-Ee Wei are still searching for their best form and have not reached any finals so far this year.
Their best results together this year were semi-final finishes in the Opens in Malaysia, India and Indonesia.
Tang Jie-Ee Wei split up at the end of March due to a strained relationship before resolving their differences and reuniting quickly.
The other Malaysian mixed doubles pair in the fray are world No. 6 Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai Jemie, world No. 13 Hoo Pang Ron-Cheng Su Yin and world No. 34 Wong Tien Ci-Lim Chiew Sien.
Soon Huat-Shevon will open their campaign against Thailand's Ruttanapak Oupthong-Jhenicha Sudjaipraparat while Pang Ron-Su Yin will play Americans Presley Smith-Jennie Gai.
Homesters Yuichi Shimogami-Sayaka Hobara stand in the way of Wong Tien Ci-Lim Chiew Sien.
