Expect a strong Australasian assault when this week’s Japan PGA Championship tees off at the Boso Country Club in Chiba.

The tournament has been a fruitful one for several of the region’s Japan Tour regulars, Brad Kennedy, Brendan Jones, Scott Strange and Michael Hendry all boasting enviable records at one of the Tour’s most prestigious events.

While the tournament changes venue each year the Australasian results are consistent with top-10’s aplenty in recent stagings.

Brad Kennedy was runner-up last year to go alongside a T5 result the previous year while Brendan Jones registered three top-8finishes in a five-year run from 2008 to 2012.

New Zealand’s Michael Hendry was fourth two years ago and T11 in 2015 while Scott Strange has posted three top-15 results in four career starts.

All four are in this week’s field alongside Matt Griffin, Aaron Townsend and Todd Sinnott.

Griffin comes into the week off a brilliant result last start at the Crowns tournament and seems likely to improve on the T53 result of his only other appearance.

Townsend and Sinnott are both playing the tournament for just the second time and both will be looking to qualify for the weekend for the first time.

Sinnott will need a significant improvement in form over his last appearance where he missed the cut at the Panasonic Open.