Ng Tze Yong is set to face his moment of truth when he takes on Singapore's reigning world champion Loh Kean Yew for the first time in the quarter-finals of the Commonwealth Games tomorrow.
The 22-year-old must upset the top seed if he is to cap a splendid debut campaign by adding another medal to the mixed team gold won on Monday.
On paper, Kean Yew should start as the favourite but an in-form Tze Yong, buoyed by his stunning win over India's K. Srikanth in the team final, will once again be out to show that he is no pushover.
The world No 42 cleared his last 16 hurdle with an easy 21-7, 21-9 win over Ajfan Rasheed of the Maldives, while Kean Yew warmed up for the showdown by beating Alexandre Bongout of Mauritius 21-13, 21-10.
Kean Yew has struggled to impress during the team campaign, going down to India's Lakhsya Sen in straight games and was forced to dig deep into his reserves to beat world No 54 Toby Penty 25-23, 11-21, 25-23.
In an interview with Singapore Straits Times, Kean Yew said: "I have been struggling all the time. It's just that not many knew who I was even at the Olympics, and after becoming world champion, more people know about me and expect me to win all the time, but it doesn't work like that."
So can Tze Yong pounce on the opportunity? Should he overcome Kean Yew, he is expected to have a rematch with Srikanth.
In women's singles, Goh Jin Wei has another chance to exact revenge on P.V. Sindhu of India following her defeat in the team event.
Jin Wei did not have to lift the racquet to progress as she was handed a walkover by Tamisha Williams of Barbados.
Top seeded Malaysian doubles pairs - Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yi (men), Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah (women) and mixed Tan Kian Meng-Lai Pei King (mixed) also progressed to the last eight.
Aaron-Wooi Yik faced little resistance from the Grimley brothers, Christopher and Matthew of Scotland before winning 21-19, 21-16.They look certain of powering into the last four as they face minnows Brian Kasirye-Daniel Wanagaliya of Uganda next.
Pearly-Thinaah made short work of South Africa's Deidre Jordaan-Johanita Scholtz, winning 21-6, 21-4 and will face Jin Yujia-Crystal Wong of Singapore. Kian Meng-Pei Jing set up a last eight clash with England's Callum Hemming-Jessica Pugh after beating Lin Ying Xiang-Gronya Somerville 21-10, 21-11.