The title-holder and two former champions lead a star-studded line-up - including half of the world's top ten - who will be competing in this week's Case Swedish Open Squash Championship in Linköping.
The $60,000 5-star PSA World Tour event will be staged for the seventh year on an all-glass court at Linköping Sporthall, from 4-7 February.
England's world No2 Nick Matthew is seeded to retain the title he won for the first time last year. But the 29-year-old from Sheffield will have stiff opposition not only from former champions James Willstrop (2008) and Stewart Boswell (2003), but also from former world number ones Amr Shabana, the second seed from Egypt, and Gregory Gaultier, the third seed from France.
Willstrop will arrive in Sweden fresh from winning the first 2010 PSA Super Series championship. The 26-year-old Englishman clinched the JP Morgan Tournament of Champions title in New York after becoming the first player ever to beat Egypt's three world number ones Amr Shabana, Karim Darwish and Ramy Ashour in the same tournament.
"This year's championship is the biggest PSA Tour event in Europe outside England," said Swedish Open tournament director Fredrik Johnson, the former Swedish international.
"In addition to the men's championship, we will be holding a $6,000 WISPA World Tour event as well as an 'all comers tournament' at the Squash Center with around 250 entries."
Men's Case Swedish Open, 1st round draw:
[1] Nick Matthew (ENG) v Saurav Ghosal (IND)
[8] Stewart Boswell (AUS) v Christian Drakenberg (SWE)
[3] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) v Qualifier
[7] Mohamed El Shorbagy (EGY) v Cameron Pilley (AUS)
[6] Alister Walker (ENG) v Qualifier
[4] James Willstrop (ENG) v Joey Barrington (ENG)
[5] Adrian Grant (ENG) v Qualifier
[2] Amr Shabana (EGY) v Qualifier
Women's Zack Swedish Open, 1st round draw:
[1] Vanessa Atkinson (NED) v Qualifier
[6] Anna-Carin Forstadius (SWE) v Laura Pomportes (FRA)
[4] Lucie Fialova (CZE) v Josefa Bertilsson (SWE)
[7] Nicolette Fernandes (GUY) v Veronika Koukalova (CZE)
[8] Maud Duplomb (FRA) v Carrie Ramsey (ENG)
[3] Dipika Pallikal (IND) v Lovisa Forstadius (SWE)
[5] Lotte Eriksen (NOR) v Sina Wall (GER)
[2] Annelize Naude (NED) v Qualifier