AIS scholarship holders Scott Arnold and Donna Urquhart head the seedings for this week’s Top End Open squash tournament in Darwin, the opening event on the Australian professional circuit.

Arnold has never previously played the Top End Open, while Urquhart reached the semi-finals in 2007 and made the final last year.

The 2009 tournament offers Arnold a great chance to get back in the winner’s circle after two years without a title.

The world number 58 faces a qualifier in the first round on Friday before a probable quarter-final against South Australian Mike Corren.  

Corren, who also plays a qualifier in the opening round, has wound down his tournament appearances this year but will still be a threat to the younger Arnold.

The strong men’s draw includes second seed Dick Lau from Hong Kong, up and coming Australians Matthew Karwalski and Zac Alexander, and defending champion Steve Finitsis from Queensland.

Finitsis will take on wildcard Jake Alexander in the opening round ahead of a likely quarter-final against Karwalski.

While Arnold faces a raft of challengers in the men’s draw, Urquhart goes into the women’s event as a firm favourite.

Urquhart, ranked 33 in the world, won the Australia Day Challenge main tour tournament in Brisbane in January and took out the Gold Coast Open challenger event last weekend, beating Amelia Pittock in the final.

Pittock is second seed at the Top End Open and she and Urquhart are heavily favoured to win through to Sunday’s final.

Melbourne’s Melody Francis, seeded three, and Brisbane’s fourth seeded Zoe Petrovansky should provide the stiffest challenges although New Zealand’s Amanda Cranston could cause a surprise.

First round draw

Men

1-Scott Arnold (NSW) v Qualifier 
7-Mike Corren (SA) v Qualifier 
3-Matthew Karwalski (NSW v Steve Robinson (Vic) 
5-Steve Finitsis (Qld) v Jake Alexander (Qld) 
8-Justin Beard (SA) v Nathan Stevenson (Qld) 
4-Zac Alexander (Qld) v Nathan Turnbull (Qld) 
6-Max Lee (HKG) v Qualifier 
2-Dick Lau (HKG) v Qualifier 

Women

1-Donna Urquhart (NSW) bye
5-Amanda Cranston (NZL) v Selena Shaikh (Vic)
3-Melody Francis (Vic) v Josefa Bertilsson (SWE) 
8-Maggy Marshall (Tas) v Tamika Saxby (NSW)  
6-Misaki Kobayashi (JPN) v Alma Kushartanti (SA) 
4-Zoe Petrovansky (Qld) v Christine Nunn (ACT)
7-Sarah Cardwell (Vic) v Samantha Davies (Qld)
2-Amelia Pittock (Vic) bye