Thailand interim coach Sirisak Yodyardthai vowed on Wednesday to beat the hosts in the opening match of the China Cup in Nanning on Thursday.
Uruguay and Uzbekistan, the other two sides in the four-team tournament, will meet on Friday.
The winners of both matches will play in the final and the losers in the third-place play-off on Monday.
"It will be a tough match for us. We lost [2-1] to China in the Asian Cup [last-16 round] two months ago," Sirisak told a press conference on Wednesday.
"This time we will try to beat them. We know China are a strong team but we hope to get a win on their home soil."
He said Thailand proved they could play against Team Dragon, under 2006 World Cup-winning coach Marcello Lippi, during the Asian Cup as the War Elephants were the better side in the first half.
Thailand are without several key players including striker Teerasil Dangda and Sirisak said some of the newcomers could be the future of the national team.
He added: "Our players will gain a lot of experience from playing in this tournament which features top-class teams who are ranked higher than Thailand in the world. This is also a good opportunity for our new players."
China are also weakened by the absence of some players and they also have a new coach in Fabio Cannavaro, who played under Lippi in Italy's 2006 World Cup winning campaign.
The tournament is crucial for both Sirisak and Cannavaro.
A good display by Thailand could land Sirisak the national team job on a permanent basis.
On the other hand, Cannavaro needs a win against Thailand in his first assignment as coach of China to silence his critics.
Apart from the loss at the Asian Cup, the War Elephants were also defeated 2-0 by China in a friendly match in Bangkok in June last year.
However, several Thai players should have fond memories of the War Elephants' 5-1 romp over China in Hefei in a warm-up game in 2013.
Key players of the current side -- captain Theerathon Bunmathan, Chanathip Songkrasin, Thitiphan Puangjan and Adisak Kraisorn -- were impressive in the 2013 match.
Adisak scored twice and Chanathip added another as the win led to a riot by Chinese fans and the sacking of then-China coach Jose Antonio Camacho.
After a training session in Nanning on Wednesday, Chanathip said he is still "hurting from the last-16 round loss to China at the Asian Cup.
"It is a good opportunity for us to settle some old scores, but it won't be an easy task.
"We are playing them [China] in their home so if we can beat them, it will be something special.
"We will to stay focused and play as a team for all entire duration of the match.
Meanwhile, Thailand midfielder Sarach Yooyen, who is making a return to the national team, said he is ready to play for the country.
"I have been working very hard, when the opportunity comes you have to give your all," he said.
