Thailand have been handed tough snooker singles draws in the 2017 SEA Games, leaving them once again banking on veteran English billiards exponents Praprut Chaithanasakun and Thawat Sujjaritthurakarn to help the national cue sport squad achieve their two-gold target.
Phaithoon Phonbun has been drawn to face defending champion Thor Chuan Leong of Malaysia in the snooker singles first round.
Two-time former Asian champion Issara Kachaiwong starts his campaign against Benjamin Al-shajjar of the Philippines and a victory could line him up for a clash with second-seeded Moh Keen Ho, also from Malaysia.
The duo have a relatively easier draw for the doubles event, in which they have not been drawn to face the hosts until the final.
Praprut, a former Asian Games gold medallist, is Thailand's top bet for the billiards singles medal, where he is expected to face a tough challenge from Myanmar's Chit Ko Ko and defending champion Peter Gilchrist of Singapore.
Praprut and Thawat will be required to get the better of Indonesia and Gilchrist-led Singapore first to stake a claim for the billiards doubles gold medal.
Thailand will also be competing in the men's 9-ball pool singles and doubles and women's 9-ball pool singles events.
The Philippines and Indonesia are expected to dominate the battles for the pool top honours at the Kuala Lumpur SEA Games.