Five-time champions Juliana Felisberta Silva and Larissa Franca of Brazil are scheduled to lead the field, with seven of the eight top-ranked teams in the world fighting for the $30,000 (£19,000) first prize.

China's Chen Xue and Xi Zhang, who captured the inaugural Phuket Thailand Open, have claimed three SWATCH gold medals this season and enter the event, which opens today, as the third-ranked team on the FIVB tour behind Brazilians Maria Antonelli and Talita Antunes.

The 2010 Phuket Thailand Open is the 15th and final stop for women on the tour.

Country quota play-off matches will set the field for Wednesday's qualification tournament where eight beach volleyball pairs will advance to Thursday's opening main draw rounds, featuring a 32-team, double-elimination format.

The medal matches will be fought out on Sunday on Karon Beach.

The men's 14-event calendar concluded at the end of August when teams from the United States dominated by winning 10 events, including nine gold medal finishes for circuit champions Phil Dalhausser and Todd Rogers.