NAKHON RATCHASIMA - Fresh from securing a 2014 World Championship berth, Thailand aim to seal a place at next year's World Grand Prix by finishing in the top four at the 17th Asian Women's Volleyball Championship which begins on Friday.
Thailand have to finish in the top four to earn a place at next year’s World Grand Prix.
Thailand open their campaign against Kazakhstan today in Pool A, while Australia face Mongolia in the same bracket.
There are four four-team pools with the top two teams of each group advancing to the quarter-finals. The top-four teams at the end of the tournament earn places at the 2014 World Grand Prix.
The Thais booked a ticket to next year's World Championship after finishing second to hosts Japan in a qualifying tournament last week.
Thai officials believe the hosts, ranked 16th in the world, will have a tough task against No.28 Kazakhstan.
"It will be a tough match for us because Kazakhstan are strong in every department," said Charnrit Wongprasert of the Volleyball Association of Thailand.
"We must be in top form to beat them."
Thailand, who won the biennial tournament in 2009, and Kazakhstan are seen as favourites to progress from Pool A with Australia and Mongolia ranked outsiders.
"We should advance to the next round but it will not be easy for us after that," Charnrit said.
Kazakhstan coach Gutor Oleksandr said his team were well-prepared for the tournament. "We have worked very hard," he said. "But it depends on whether our players will be able to perform well on match days."
Meanwhile, world No.5 China will start the defence of their title by taking on Iran in Pool B while world No.3 Japan, who lost to China in the 2011 final, entertain Vietnam who are ranked 90 places behind them.
World No.10 South Korea, who beat Thailand in the third-place play-off two years ago, are up against Myanmar.
TODAY'S SCHEDULE
At Chatchai Hall: Australia v Mongolia (11 am), Thailand v Kazakhstan (2pm), Japan v Vietnam (4.30pm), China v Iran (7pm)
At The Mall: Philippines v India (11am), South Korea v Myanmar (2pm), Taiwan v Sri Lanka (4pm), Indonesia v Hong Kong (6pm)