Defending champion Tsai Chi-huang, one of two Taiwan invitees, expects strong competition from the international field, which features Nanjing winner Kurt Barnes and eight more PGA Tour of Australasia pros.

'It's a big field this week with more foreigners. I think there will be more competition than last year, especially as the Australian players are very strong,' said former Asian Tour player Tsai.

The 40-year-old won last year's inaugural event at the Luxehills International Country Club with a China Tour record total of 18-under-par 270.

Liao Guiming, the reigning Omega Order of Merit winner, said the domestic circuit was expanding, highlighting the live television coverage of Luxehills on Saturday and Sunday, a first for the China Tour.

'With so many players, more foreigners and now live television, the Omega China Tour is growing pretty quickly. It's getting much more exposure and being watched by more people,' said Liao.

Barnes, the 2003 Australian Amateur champion, is also eyeing the Luxehills trophy following a strong start to the year which included a joint-11th finish in April's Volvo China Open.

'The live television is a great initiative for the Omega China Tour, but I'm used to this in Australia and when I played on the Asian Tour,' said the 28-year-old.

'I'm pretty confident about this week as my victory in Nanjing helped take a lot of pressure off me after not winning for four years,' added Barnes, who will play the first two rounds with fellow big-hitters Yuan Hao and Su Dong. -- AFP