Jose Maria Olazabal admitted his team needs a minor miracle to avoid a first Royal Trophy defeat, after suffering another battering from the rampant Asian team in the Fourballs.

Asia deservedly took the second day honours 3 1/2 - 1/2 and now lead by five points going into the singles.

With 6 1/2 points already in the bag, they need to win just two of the eight points on offer on the final day. They have so many players in irresistible form, it is hard to see them throwing it away now.

But the system where the captains name a player alternately for each match allowed Olazabal to painstakingly construct a singles line-up he feels will give his team some hope of staging an incredible comeback.

He said: "I have put the players in my team that are playing the strongest up front in the draw because we need to get as many points as possible and we need to get them quickly.

"We have a tough task ahead of us. The Asian team played really well and made a lot of putts today, so we need to get out there and get a lot of blue numbers on the board as quickly as possible.

"What I saw on the first two days is that the Asian team putted really well, and they made crucial putts at times when a match could have gone our way. At those points they made a lot of ten and 12
footers to keep the momentum in their favour.

"They played well from tee to green but then I think that most of my players did that too – Asia just made the putts at the right times.

"Obviously we cannot stop believing that we can win or there would be no point in going out there tomorrow.

"We are going to have to do something really special. But I have to say that I believe that any of the players in the European team can beat any of the players in the Asian team. Based in that, I believe we still have a chance, even though it is a slim one.”

His opposite number, Joe Ozaki, did not seem too alarmed by that show of defiance.

Captain Ozaki had already decided on his singles line-up before seeing where the Europeans would play, and said he had every confidence in their ability to finish the job off.

He nominated 17 year old Japanese phenomenon Ryo Ishikawa to lead the team off for the third day running, arguing that the youngster's enthusiasm and enormous self-confidence have proved infectious.

Ozaki explained: "The presence of Ishikawa has definitely given the team momentum and spirit. I have chosen him to go out first to keep that momentum going."

Ishikawa has attracted massive galleries, just as he does in Japan, but insists he does not feel extra pressure because of the attention focused on him,

He said: "I never feel distracted by the crowds. They are one hundred per cent appreciative, and their support is good for me and the team."

Singles draw:

11.06: Ishikawa v Hansen; 11.15: Liang v Lawrie; 11.24: Wi v Dougherty; 11.33: Prayad v Larrazabal; 11.42: Tanihara v Wilson; 11.51: Ho v Edfors; 12.00: Taniguchi v Fasth; 12.09: Thongchai v McGinley.