Padraig Harrington will face fellow World Matchplay debutant Carlos Franco at Wentworth tomorrow. Victory would set up a clash with South Africa's Ernie Els, although the Dubliner will hardly be looking past his first round clash with Franco.

Like Harrington, the Paraguayan, now established on the US tour, arrives fresh from Dunhill Cup action at St Andrews. Harrington will be hoping to put the disappointment of Ireland's defeat to Spain behind him and make a lasting impression in the IMG-run tournament.

There is the outside chance the Dubliner could possibly face the man he conquered in the Ryder Cup singles, defending World Matchplay champion Mark O'Meara, but only if they make the final. Harrington would have to dispose of Franco, followed by Els and then probably either Colin Montgomerie or Jose-Maria Olazabal.

Olazabal, the US Masters champion, and British Open champion Paul Lawrie also face first-round action, having failed to secure a seeding. Lawrie plays Australian Craig Parry while the Spaniard meets American Notah Begay, the Navajo who on Sunday had his second US Tour victory this season.

In a change of policy the world rankings have been used to determine the four top seeds, although O'Meara has been named the number one.

The American, who beat Tiger Woods in last year's final, opens on Friday against the winner of the Lawrie v Parry clash, while world number three Colin Montgomerie faces either Olazabal or Begay - assuming, that is, he recovers from a dental operation tomorrow to cure the problem which forced him out of last week's Alfred Dunhill Cup at St Andrews.

Two other newcomers meet in the first round as well, with 19-year-old Sergio Garcia taking on South African Retief Goosen for the right to face Zimbabwe's Nick Price, the number four seed.