Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand, October 4,2008 -- Asian powerhouses are expected to flex their muscles and book their berths for the Monday’s semi-finals of the on-going inaugural Asian Women’s Cup Volleyball Championship, the Asian qualification round to determine the final two teams for the next year’s FIVB World Grand Prix.

The quarter-finals of the one-week, eight-team tournament take place on Sunday at The Mall Nakhon Ratchasima’s MCC Hall, with Group A winners Korea taking on Malaysia, Group B champions China facing Chinese Taipei, hosts Thailand pitting their expertise against Australia and Japan meeting Vietnam.

However, as far as all teams’ performances in the group round-robin preliminaries are concerned, the stronger teams –Korea, China, Thailand and Japan - are expected to power past their respective rivals in the quarter-finals.

As China and Japan already made the cut for the World Grand Prix, Korea and Thailand have been given the brightest chance of joining them for the women’s premiere competition.

Japan, China, Thailand and Korea finished respective top four teams in the last year’s Asian Senior Women’s Volleyball Championship at the same venue here.

In the Sunday’s quarter-finals, unbeaten Korea, world number 10 and silver medalists in the 2006 Doha Asian Games, fielded experienced veterans and their superb form cannot be underestimated.

Without doubt, the formidable Koreans are quite confident of pulling off a convincing straight-set victory over underdogs Malaysia, which have yet won a single set in the top-flight competition.

Title-hotshots China, reigning Asian Games champions and bronze medalists at the Beijing Olympic Games, have yet lost a single set to their respective rivals in the preliminaries and the quarter-final encounter against smaller-built Chinese Taipei should not be a problem for them.

Led by highly-experienced Liu Yanan, Zhou Suhong, Yang Hao and hard-attacking Wang Yimei, China are ready to overwhelm Chinese Taipei with their height and power at the net to register a comfortable straight-set win and advance to the semi-finals without much sweating.

Also upbeat of booking their semi-final berth are the host side. Australia are expected to use their height advantage over the net to mount a strong challenge against Thailand, but with the greater experience and form, the Thai girls, boosted by nerve-wracking, drum-beating boisterous home fans, have all aspects to beat the rivals without much trouble.

“Saturday is the rest day, but my girls still keep on our hard training in preparation for the tougher task in the semi-finals, where we are due to take on China. As for the quarter-finals, I’m quite sure that my team can beat Australia comfortably. They are tall, but not fast. I dare say that their tactics and techniques are also second to my girls,” commented Thai head coach Natapon Srisamutnak.

“A berth to play in the next year’s FIVB World Grand Prix could be now within our reach since we are sure of making it to the semi-finals. We eye only the tough battle against China. It’s hard to beat the indomitable giants, but if we can spring a surprise by winning at least one set in the mighty clash, I think that will be a great success of my girls in this tournament.”

As for the match between Japan and Vietnam, despite the fact that Japan is a newly-formed team and gathered just in one week for training, their dazzling form and gutsy display in the previous battle against China was a good proof that the Japanese are one of the strong teams to be reckoned with.

The never-say-die Japanese stand a better chance of outclassing Vietnam even though the rivals are likely to pose a brave fightback. Judged from their forms, Japan already proved a cut above Vietnam.

With only three days to go before the curtain comes down on the first Asian Women’s Cup Volleyball Championship, a huge crowd of home spectators and foreign visitors alike are expected to pack the battleground to cheer on their favourite teams, particular in the Sunday’s quarter-finals to decide the eventual final four teams.