Kuala Lumpur, September 4: Malaysia will count on the new partnership of Iain Steel and debutant Airil Rizman to steer them to glory at the Fortis International Challenge from September 27-30.

The Fortis International Challenge is the qualifying event for the Omega Mission Hills World Cup in November, a prestigious team event which Malaysia last qualified in 2001 through the combination of Danny Chia and P. Gunasegaran.

With home advantage, Airil, winner of the Pakistan Open this season, and Steel, who is ranked eighth on the Asian Tour's UBS Order of Merit, are determined to enjoy a successful start as a team and earn one of four tickets to the World Cup.

Airil said: "It is really exciting as it will be my first time competing in the Fortis International Challenge. I've always wanted to play in the qualifier and now that I've got my chance, I hope to do my best.

"During my amateur days, I played in several team events but I have not done so since turning professional. I know there will be a lot of pressure to perform on home soil as we are carrying our national flag," said the 29-year-old Airil, who was Malaysia's number one amateur player before joining the professional ranks.

Steel, who is of Malaysian-Scottish parentage, will be hoping to be third time lucky in his hopes to qualify for the World Cup. He partnered Chia in the last two years but failed to get the job done.

The 36-year-old Steel is looking forward to teaming up with Airil. "He has proven this year that he is he man in form, having won the Pakistan Open. I am glad he has kept up his consistent form through the middle of the year too. It will be different than playing with Danny as Airil has more of the same game as I do where he is steady and controlled. I hope our putters can do the talking during the qualifier," said Steel.

"Hopefully third time is a charm for me."

Steel, Malaysia's first player to qualify for the British Open and to feature on the US PGA Tour in the late 1990s, feels the Fortis International Challenge is a wonderful opportunity for the region's stars to take on the world.

"It is great to see the World Cup coming to Asia as it will peak everyone's interest in to the game," said Steel.

"I played at Kota Permai two years ago in my first qualifier and the course is a wonderful test as the condition and hospitality was first class," he said.

The Asian Tour, organising the event on behalf of the International Federation of PGA Tours, is expecting over 20 non-exempt teams from Asia, Europe and Africa to head full speed to Kuala Lumpur in their bid to sparkle in the Fortis International Challenge.

Players are selected based on their world rankings, followed by the regional and domestic rankings of the respective Tours that they play on.

Singapore, last year's winner of the qualifier, will be represented once again by the strong combination of Mardan Mamat and Lam Chih Bing as they seek a fourth World Cup appearance as a team.

The other countries who have, to date, signed up for the Fortis International Challenge are Hong Kong (James Stewart and Wong Woon Man), Swaziland (Meshack Zwane and Moses Shongwe), Namibia (Joe Nawanga, Adri Basson), Myanmar (Zaw Moe, Soe Kyaw Naing), New Zealand (Stephen Scahill, Richard Lee) and Maritius (Billy Narraina, Vishnoo Seeneevassen).

Lam, who also qualified for the World Cup in 2002 and 2005, said: "I've played in the World Cup on three previous occasions and I've enjoyed it. Mardan and I have gelled well together and we enjoy playing as a team.

"It is nice to represent Singapore as it's not often that we get to play in a team event in Asia. I hope to do that every year."

Lam knows that the successful teams at the Fortis International Challenge will get the opportunity to flex their muscles against the top nations in the World Cup.   Germany is the title holder.

"It's a chance for Asian teams to gauge ourselves. I've played with Choi Kyung-ju of Korea and Ireland's Padraig Harrington in previous World Cups, so it has been a good experience," said Lam.

Kota Permai Golf and Country Club, which is located on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur in Shah Alam, boasts of a top-class course designed by Australian architect Ross Watson. The club has in the past successfully hosted the Volvo Masters of Asia, the season-ending event on the Asian Tour.

The Qualifier in Malaysia is open to Asian, European and African nations. Two-man teams will converge in Kuala Lumpur to chase the opportunity to challenge title holders Germany and many of the world's best players in China.

The format for the Qualifier is the same as the World Cup, with fourball golf played on the first and third days and foursomes (or alternate shot) played on the second and final days.

Like Asia, South America will also host a Qualifier. A total of 28 teams will tee up in Mission Hills Golf Club.