Francesco Molinari is the only player in the top 50 taking part in the Hassan Trophy, part of the European Tour schedule for the first time.

Now back ahead of his brother Edoardo on the rankings after finishing 14th at last week's WGC-CA Championship in Miami, Molinari has a real chance to boost his hopes of a Ryder Cup debut in October.

The 27-year-old World Cup winner from Turin, whose only Tour victory remains the 2006 Italian Open, is in 12th place on the European points list, but the first prize of £207,666 would take him into the seventh qualifying spot.

"It's a new tournament for the European Tour, but it's been played for many years, so it should be interesting and hopefully a lot of fun," Molinari told the Tour's official website, www.europeantour.com.

"I've heard good things about the course from some of the Italian guys who have played it on the Challenge Tour and my caddie's also been there before, so he should be able to help me out.

"Hopefully I'll be in good shape because it's obviously quite a long flight from Miami to Morocco. It maybe helps that it's a pro-am format because it'll be a more relaxed atmosphere."

Swede Alex Noren, who won the first cup qualifying event in Switzerland last September, has since slipped to 11th on the list and is looking to make the same leap up at Molinari.

There is an added incentive for him. On Monday week the top 50 in the world rankings earn places in next month's Masters and he is currently 63rd.

Noren also has next week's Andalucian Open in Malaga before the cut-off date.