Experienced player Supphachai Jitchamroon spearheads the squad, which came fifth in the Asian Championship last year and also won the SEA Games crown.

The Hanoi event will be a good opportunity for the players to test their skills and standing before the Asian Games in Doha this December.

The squad, playing under the banner of Sangsom, is a mixture of six experienced and six up-and-coming players. Supphachai Jitchamroon, Supphachai Sriphum, Wanchai Tapwiset, Pongsakorn Nimawan, Yutthana Kieawpeka and Sarayut Yutthayong represent the old generation. Somkiart Sombat, Chottiwat Tiewsuwan, Annop Atthakornsiripo, Surachai Churat, Ranarong Jarupeng and Somsak Prommetta will be the rookies of the squad.

"We had to replace some older players with youngsters. Many of them will represent their club teams in the Thailand Armed Forces Games this season. Though they are not expected to perform any miracles in Hanoi, I feel the experience they gain from it will be valuable in the coming years," said Shanrit Wongprasert, secretary-general of the Volleyball Association of Thailand.

Meanwhile Thailand, who finished a poor fifth in the Asian Women's Club Championship in Vietnam last year, will be out to revive their fortunes in this year's meet in Manila from May 24 to 30. Veteran Patcharee Saengmuang and Amporn Yhapa, who won the Best Server Award last year, will spearhead the team's challenge.

Somporn Suphop

The Nation