Thailand face a tricky assignment against Russia in their opening match at the Sudirman Cup mixed team championship in Nanning, China, on Tuesday.
While Thailand, led by former world champion Ratchanok Intanon, start as favourites against Russia, they can't underestimate the opponents who came close to shocking top seeds Japan in Group 1A on Monday.
With the top two teams of each of the four three-team groups advancing to the quarter-finals, the Thais must beat the Russians at Guangxi Sports Centre to progress past the group stage.
Thailand reached the semi-finals in the previous edition in Australia, and head coach Rexy Mainaky wants his team to do better.
"In the Gold Coast, we were the underdogs. Nobody expected us to reach the semi-finals. This year we want to go further," said Indonesia's Mainaky.
Apart from Ratchanok, Thailand also pin their hopes on mixed doubles pair Dechapol Puavaranukroh and Sapsiree Taerattanacha and women's doubles duo Jongkolphan Kititharakul and Rawinda Prajongjai.
In yesterday's action, title favourites Japan survived a scare in their opening tie, having to rally from 2-1 down to beat Russia 3-2.
Russia's spirited charge was led by Vladimir Malkov, who, though ranked No.62 to his opponent Kenta Nishimoto's No.10, delivered an embarrassing early blow to the top seeds.
Leading 2-1, Russia were no match for Japan in the women's categories.
Nozomi Okuhara defeated Natalia Perminova 21-6, 21-16 in the women's singles before Yuki Fukushima/Sayaka Hirota beat Ekaterina Bolotova/Alina Davletova in the women's doubles 21-5 21-16, to wrap up the proceedings.