Thailand take on 10-time champions China in the semi-finals of the Sudirman Cup mixed-team world championship in Nanning on Saturday.
The Thais knocked out defending champions South Korea with a 3-1 victory in the quarter-finals on Thursday, avenging their defeat in the semi-finals two years ago.
China defeated Denmark 3-1 on Thursday to move a step closer to bury their disappointment from two years ago when they lost to the Koreans in the final.
Japan, who along with hosts China are the favourites to lift the trophy on Sunday, will battle it out against Indonesia in the other semi-final on Saturday.
Thailand's hopes rest on Ratchanok Intanon and mixed doubles stars Dechapol Puavaranukroh and Sapsiree Taerattanachai while the women's doubles tie will be crucial to the Kingdom's chance against the host team.
World No.7 Ratchanok is likely to face third-ranked Chen Yufei in the women's singles while Dechapol and Sapsiree should be lined up against world No.1 pair Zheng Siwei and Huang Yaqiong. The fourth-ranked Thais stunned the Chinese in the semi-finals of the Singapore Open in April, ending their 18-match winning streak.
In Friday's quarter-finals, Kento Momota and Nozomi Okuhara triumphed in their singles matches while Takeshi Kamura and Keigo Sonoda took the men's doubles tie to give Japan -- who have never won the Sudirman Cup -- a 3-0 victory over Malaysia.
During the opening men's doubles, Malaysia's Teo Ee Yi was left bloodied and shaken after his partner Ong Yew Sin accidentally smashed him in the face with his shin.
Teo stayed on the floor for nearly 10 minutes with a gashed chin, blood pouring down his neck, with the match locked at 19-19 in the deciding third game.
Teo suffered the injury after he and playing partner Ong Yew Sin both dived in an attempt to retrieve the same shot, and Ong's trailing left leg caught Teo in the face.
Although Teo eventually climbed off the floor to continue with a large bandage on his chin, the Malaysian duo appeared to have lost their edge. They saved a second match point against Kamura and Sonoda, but could not ultimately prevent going down to a dramatic defeat spread over 95 thrilling minutes.
Indonesia booked their place in the last four with a narrow 3-2 victory over Taiwan. Their players swept all the doubles matches while Taiwan won the singles ties.
