KUALA LUMPUR: For Lee Chong Wei, taking on nemesis and five-time world champion Lin Dan of China is not an everyday affair.
The Malaysian will face the two-time Olympic gold medallist in the quarter-finals at the All England later on Friday.
On Thursday, the national men's singles star, had to work hard before carving out a 21-6, 13-21, 21-18 win over South Korea's Lee Dong Keun in the second round at the Birmingham Arena.
The defending champion, who is gunning a record fifth title, when contacted said: "I am sure that not only Malaysians are expecting a Chong Wei versus Lin Dan match, but the whole world.
"For me, I want to do my best and hopefully achieve my target.
"My first match (against Ygor Coelho) here wasn't that great, so was my second. Let's see if I can turn o the heat against Lin Dan in the quarter-finals."
The last time the two greats met, was at the Badminton Asia Championships last year, where the China ace wrapped up the match in straight games 21-13, 21-15.
So great is the rivalry that Lin Dan is also depicted in the latest biopic Lee Chong Wei: Rise of the Legend, that hit the cinemas on Thursday.
Meanwhile, in the men's doubles, Goh V Shem-Tan Wee Kiong extended their impressive run to reach the quarter-finals.
The 2016 Rio Olympic Games silver medallists were also made to work hard before chalking up a 16-21, 23-21, 21-12 win over local duo Marcus Ellis-Chris Langridge in the second round.
V Shem-Wee Kiong, whose last title was the World Super Series Finals in 2016, took on second seeds Mathias Boe-Carsten Mogensen of Denmark for a place in Saturday's last four.
It was, however, the end of the road for national No 2 Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi, who went down fighting to top seeds Marcus Fernaldi Gideon-Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo of Indonesia, who took the game 21-17, 20-22, 21-13.
Former world junior champion, Goh Jin Wei was also knocked out, after losing 24-22, 21-18 to Japan's Aya Ohori in the women's singles second round.