Xu, winner in 2012, 2013 and 2015, overcame South Korea's Lee Sangsu 4-1 in his quarter-final this morning before winning in five sets once again in his semi-final, 4-1 over Singapore's Ning Gao.

Olympic champion Zhang, who beat Geo in the final in 2010, best Chiang Hung-Chieh of Taiwan 4-1 before being pushed to six games by semi-final opponent Wong Chun Ting of Hong Kong.

Wong had earlier accounted for third seed Jun Mizutani of Japan, 4-2.

Xu is hoping to join world number one Ma Long on a record four wins at an Asian Cup, which, remarkably, has only ever had a non-Chinese men's singles winner five time in 28 editions.

The clash between Xu and Zhang is extra significant as the duo are battling for the second singles spot to join Ma Long at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. 

Liu Shiwen beat Japanese teenage star Mima Ito 4-1 before triumphing 4-0 over Tie Yana of Hong Kong.

Li battled past another Hong Kong player in Jiang Huajun 4-2 before another tough victory over the same margin over defending champion Feng Tianwei of Singapore.

Liu, who lost to Feng in last year's event, is seeking to add to her three victories in 2010, 2012 and 2013.

Both finals are scheduled to take place tomorrow.