The field - featuring the top players from each continental cup across the world, a host player and an International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) wildcard - begin competing tomorrow morning, with number two seed Boll likely to attract much attention as he makes his comeback from an illness that saw him miss the recent European Championships.

Having twice won the Men's World Cup before, he said he is "glad to be back".

"I am not sure how good my form will be, but I love playing in World Cups so we will see," Boll added.

"The World Cup is a good system, where you play against the best players in the world.

"It is not a knock out system so you can improve during the tournament."

The Men's World Cup on home soil is likely to be Jean-Michel Saive's last before retirement


Home favourite Jean-Michel Saive, who was drawn in Group A alongside Zi and Portugal's Marcos Freitas, will be another one to watch as he plays in his 18th and possibly last World Cup.

"I am very proud to be playing in my 18th World Cup, which is a record I now hold beside the legend [Jan-Ove] Waldner," Saive said.

"It is even more special that it is in my home country.

"I feel that my group is the toughest, but that is life.

"Last time I played Yang Zi I lost quite easily, but I will fight and fight and hopefully get the win in front of my family and friends."

Meanwhile, three-time Men's World Cup champion Samsonov is also close to matching Waldner because if he makes the final he will have achieved 51 wins, just one behind the record of 52 set by the Swede.

"I am very privileged to have won this many matches," sixth seed Samsonov said.

"However, I am just thinking about winning my first match tomorrow, and not get too ahead of myself."

The Men's World Cup is due to run through until Sunday (October 27).

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