'I'm hoping to have another pairing with him [Els],' said Zhang, who is ranked a lowly 370th in the world. 'One of my biggest wins was against him in Singapore [Caltex Masters in 2002] when I won on the last hole, which was great. Hopefully, I can have a duel with him again.'

Zhang has played in nine Johnnie Walker Classics, with a best finish of tied for ninth in 2001. Els has played in 11 of the 14 editions and won twice - in 1997 and 2002.

Els arrives on the back of a disastrous Masters, where he finished 47th. Zhang, meanwhile, is still basking in Asia's second thrashing of Japan in the Dynasty Cup and a personal achievement of taking his record to six wins from six matches in the Ryder Cup-style event.

Zhang got his wish to play Maruyama in the final singles match at Mission Hills on Sunday, but China's favourite player was denied a hero's welcome down the last hole after Maruyama surrendered at the 16th. Zhang's 3 &2 victory was lost in the euphoria of Filipino Angelo Que's winning putt moments earlier.

'I played really well against Maruyama,' said Zhang. 'He plays on the US tour and I learned a few things from him.

'What I learned most was how to smile on the course. Shigeki is always smiling and it's something which I want to do. I'm sometimes far too serious when I play.'

The Johnnie Walker Classic is in China for the first time and Zhang is well aware of the high expectations. 'It's great that this event has come to China and I'm really looking forward to it. I hope the fans come out to support me.

'I finished top 10 at Pine Valley last year [in the Volkswagen Masters of China]. The course hasn't changed much but the strength of the field has - this is much stronger with some world-class names.'

World number three Els leads the roll call, which also includes world number five Retief Goosen of South Africa, number six Sergio Garcia of Spain and number 10 Adam Scott of Australia.

Goosen won the event in 2002 and other winners competing are defending champion Miguel Angel Jimenez of Spain, England's Nick Faldo (1990 and 1993), and New Zealand's Michael Campbell (1999).

Faldo's day may be over, but England has two bright prospects in Luke Donald and Paul Casey.

Donald, 27, brings the best form to China after an 'unbelievable' Masters in which he finished equal third. 'It was a great step for me. I probably didn't have a chance to win because Tiger Woods and Chris DiMarco were so far ahead, but it was good to shoot three rounds in the 60s in my first time at Augusta.

'I went there playing the best I ever have and if it wasn't for the 77 in the second round I possibly could have won.

'I think it also showed you don't have to be the longest hitter to compete round there,' said world number 13 Donald, who finished second at the prestigious Players Championship before the Masters.

'I've learned to have high expectations and that in turn gives me confidence to play well.

'My main goal is to get into the top 10 in the world rankings, and another is to compete in the major championships ... and playing on a Sunday with a chance to win,' said Donald, who also starred in Europe's Ryder Cup win.

'Another goal obviously is to win again on the US PGA Tour. I haven't won there since 2002 [in the Southern Farm Bureau Classic].'

Donald, Garcia, Scott and Casey are all good friends and are all in a race to claim a first major.

'I believe I am going to win a major sometime soon and hopefully I will beat those other guys to it,' Donald said. 'We are all friends. We respect each other, but we want to beat each other and that can only be good for golf.'