India's C. Muniyappa and Arjun Atwal are gearing up for a title assault on home soil at the inaugural 1.5-million-euro (2.1-million-dollar) Avantha Masters which tees off Thursday.

Muniyappa, last year's Hero Honda Indian Open champion and Atwal, a former Asian Tour number one, will spearhead the local challenge alongside two-time Asian number one Jeev Milkha Singh and Jyoti Randhawa at the DLF Golf and Country Club.

Last year's Asian Tour Order of Merit runner-up Liang Wenchong of China, Thai veteran Thaworn Wiratchant, an 11-time winner, and Darren Beck of Australia, the 2009 Brunei Open champion, are among the top names at the event tri-sanctioned by the Asian and European tours and Professional Golf Tour of India.

Muniyappa will be keen to repeat last year's feat when he stunned the field for his maiden Asian Tour victory.

Muniyappa, who earned just one rupee (two cents at today's rates) a day as a forecaddie during his youth, is looking forward to returning to the venue which launched him to fame.

"It'll be nice to get back to DLF as I won there last year. I'm looking forward to it," he said.

"I played a couple of big events last year and even though I missed the cut in China and Singapore, I feel that I'm getting better because I'm seeing and playing with bigger players and that has given me more confidence playing on the Asian Tour," said Muniyappa.

"With the way the Asian Tour has grown in the last few years, the prize money has increased and more tournaments are being played, it's only a matter of time before more guys break through and win big tournaments (internationally)," said Atwal.

Marcus Both of Australia, who claimed his second Asian Tour title at the 2009 Johnnie Walker Cambodian Open en route to his best season where he finished seventh on the Order of Merit, will also be in the elite field.

He will be banking on his commendable tied third place finish at last year's Indian Open where he missed the play-off by two strokes at DLF.

All eyes will also be on rising Indian stars Gaganjeet Bhullar, the 2009 Indonesia President Invitational champion and Anirban Lahiri, who is still hunting for his maiden Asian Tour victory.