Hong Kong will be attempting to exorcise the ghost of their Asian Cricket Council Trophy debacle against Malaysia when the Tuanku Ja'afar Cup gets under way today.
Hong Kong launch the defence of the four-team South East Asian Championship title with an intriguing opener against a Hong Kong President's XI at the Kowloon Cricket Club, while Singapore face Malaysia at the Hong Kong Cricket Club.
The President's XI, a best-of-the-rest Hong Kong team, were drafted into the tournament in place of Thailand, who withdrew for financial reasons earlier this season.
Although points will not be up for grabs for matches involving the President's XI, it will be no holds barred when the select side take on Stewart Brew's team today.
'Points aren't at stake and it gives us a chance to experiment. But by the same token, it's a game that neither side will want to lose . . . we don't want to be knocked off and vice-versa,' said Brew.
Brew said Hong Kong wanted to make amends for their ACC Trophy defeat against the Malaysians.