Debutant Prayad Marksaeng wants Asia to win the Royal Trophy against Europe as a gift for the King of Thailand.

After a highly successful season where he won three times in Japan and finished 12th on the Asian Tour' Order of Merit, the smooth-swinging Prayad plans to launch his new year on a winning note by playing a major role in the Royal Trophy.

"We'll try to win the Royal Trophy for the King of Thailand," said Prayad. "I'm proud to be a part of the Asian Team for the first time and I will be playing hard to bring honour to the King.

"We have a very strong Asian side this week as most players have won titles last season. I believe we have a good chance."

His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej donated the Royal Trophy which was inaugurated in 2006 by golf legend Seve Ballesteros, who captained Europe to victories over Asia in the first two editions. Jose Maria Olazabal is skippering the European side this week as Ballesteros recovers from multiple surgeries due to a brain tumour.

Asia, led by non-playing captain Naomichi ‘Joe' Ozaki, will also feature Prayad's countryman Thongchai Jaidee, a 10-time winner on the Asian Tour, Korea's Charlie Wi and S.K. Ho, Chinese star Liang Wen-chong and Japanese trio Toru Taniguchi, Hideto Tanihara and teenage sensation Ryo Ishikawa.

Prayad is expected to be paired with close friend Thongchai for the opening foursomes and Saturday's fourball session. They combined effectively at the Omega Mission Hills World Cup in China last November and finished seventh.

Prayad is also hoping that Ozaki will send them out in the first match tomorrow in hope of delivering Asia's first point of the competition, which has been won twice previously by a dominant Europe team.

"I would like to be the first match out and try to win the first point for Asia. Europe is strong but we'll give them a good match. I will speak to our captain to see if he can send us out first although he will have his own strategy," said Prayad, a six-time winner on the Asian Tour.

After being in two losing sides, Thongchai is determined to gain some measure of revenge against Europe which is represented by English duo Oliver Wilson and Nick Dougherty, Sweden's Johan Edfors and Niclas Fasth, Scotland's Paul Lawrie, Spain's Pablo Larrazabal, Irishman Paul McGinley and Denmark's Soren Hansen.

"This is the third time I'm competing in the Royal Trophy and I have learned from my past experiences," said Thongchai, who has won 2 ½ points from six matches in the Royal Trophy.

"I enjoy playing with Prayad and I'm looking forward to playing with him again," added the two-time Asian number one.

Like Prayad, Liang is looking forward to his debut in the Royal Trophy. "I'm excited to play for Asia," said the 30-year-old. "It's a great opportunity for Asia to wrest the Royal Trophy from Europe and I'm hoping to play my part."

Ozaki, captaining the Asian team for the second time, is determined to deliver Asia's first triumph in the series and has called for his stars to show "guts and fighting spirit" to prevail.

"I was disappointed with our result in 2007 and I want revenge this week," said Ozaki, one of Japan's most decorated players with over 30 tournament victories.

"I want to beat Olazabal's team very badly but it will be difficult as Asian players are still not used to matchplay formats. My players need to show guts and fighting spirit and beat the guys in front of them."

Four foursomes matches will be played on Friday, followed by four fourball matches on Saturday and eight singles matches on Sunday.