Jose Maria Olazabal has given his wounded stars a chance to redeem themselves by keeping faith with his four Royal Trophy pairings, despite slumping to a 3-1 defeat in the opening day Foursomes.

The same combinations will go out in Saturday's Fourball, with orders to trim the deficit before the competition reaches its climax with Sunday's eight singles matches.

That is going to be difficult. Asian confidence received a huge boost after they won a mixed session against their far more experienced match play rivals for the first time.

The international profile of this year's shoot-out has also soared, helped by the fact that Asian supporters sense captain Joe Ozaki's pre-match confidence was not just a hollow boast.

This is clearly the strongest team Asia has assembled so far, and they have also seemed to have been inspired by the massive media interest created by the presence of 17 year old Ryo Ishikawa.

Ironically, the Japanese wonder kid was one half of the only Asian duo to taste defeat on day one, alongside fellow countryman Toru Taniguchi.

But there is no doubt his team-mates have responded to the way Ishikawa has helped to put the competition firmly on the golfing map - and a first Asian victory will move that process one step further.

Not surprisingly, Ozaki did not tamper with either his pairings or their running order. But only Ishikawa and Taniguchi will face the same opponents - Paul Lawrie and Soren Hansen - with Olazabal shuffling his pecking order around.

Ozaki commented: "It was an easy decision. I learned from Seve Ballestetros at the last Royal Trophy. He never changed his pairings when things were going well.

"All the players are comfortable with the partnerships we have chosen. My players know each other from playing together on the Asian or Japanese Tours. They know how to play with each other, and have built up a good understanding.

"We have the early momentum, and the motivation for the players to win this year's Royal Trophy is very strong. That is why they managed to play so well today."

Olazabal insisted he was not tempted to shake up his parings.

He said: "When I chose these pairs for the Foursomes I felt they were the best combinations we could field. That has not changed. We just did not perform as well as we should have.

"If you feel you have settled on your strongest pairings there is no need to change them, it is as simple as that."

Fourball draw: 11.05, Ishikawa & Tanihguchi v Lawrie & Hansen; 11.18, Wi & Liang v Dougherty & Wilson; 11.31, Tanihara & Ho v Fasth & Edfors; 11.44, Thongchai & Prayad v Larrazabal & McGinley.