Malaysia coaching director Rexy Mainaky wants Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik to prove their worth as the country’s top senior pair as they continue their bid to claim a first title on the BWF World Tour this week.

Despite not making it to the Asian Games men's dboules final, the world number five pair were still the best achievers from the national contingent with a solitary bronze medal.

What is still lacking from their CV is a first title on the badminton circuit, in which they will try to break their duck at the Arctic Open in Finland.

Chia-Soh have national team-mates Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun for company in the opening round, and Rexy wants to see a good showing from both pairs.

“Aaron Wooi Yik must fight to give their best and try to maintain their level, as they are the senior pair. For Wei Chong-Kai Wun, they need to prove they have closed the gap with Aaron-Wooi Yik and can challenge them,” Rexy told The Star.

Should Chia-Soh clear that hurdle, there are several top pairs including Kim Astrup-Anders Rasmussen, Lee Yang-Wang Chi-lin, Lu Ching-yao-Yang Po-han and Shohibul Fikri-Bagas Maulana who could stand in their way.

In the men’s singles, Lee Zii Jia returns to action after his Asian Games quarter-final loss as he aims to get his season back on track.

The world number 16 shuttler takes on a French qualifier in the first round, while Ng Tze Yong is due a quick reunion against Kantahphon Wangcharoen, whom he just outclassed in Hangzhou.

National women’s doubles Pearly Tan-M.Thinaah and national mixed doubles pair Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei are the others who are banked on to go far in this Super 500 event.

For the record, Malaysia have yet to taste victory in a tournament of this level so far this year, with Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei, Man-Tee and Goh Szei Fei-Nur Izzuddin winning Super 300 events Orleans Masters, Taipei and U.S. Open.