China's striker, Han Duan

China will be the crowd favourites as the hosts attempt to win back their crown from holders DPR Korea at the AFC Women’s Asian Cup, which will be held in the football-mad city of Chengdu from May 19-30.

Most of the group games and all the knockout stage matches will be held at the Chengdu Sports Centre, which regularly attracted crowds of more than 35,000 during the 2007 FIFA Women’s World Cup. The top three finishers in Chengdu will qualify for next year’s World Cup in Germany.

China, who are in Group B with Australia, Korea Republic and Vietnam, last won the Asian Cup in Adelaide in 2006 after a record seven successive titles from 1983 to 1999.

However, DPR Korea have become Asia’s dominant force in women’s football over the past decade and are eyeing their fourth title in five editions after wins in 2001, 2003 and 2008, when they beat China 2-1 in the final in Ho Chi Minh City.

China coach Shang Ruihua appears confident after settling on Xu Yuan as a replacement for injured striker Ma Xiaoxu, especially after the 24-year-old scored in a recent 2-0 friendly win over Canada.

“We had been using Ma Xiaoxu and Han Duan as our top two strikers till this year's Algarve Cup, but had to change tactics after Xiaoxu got injured in Kunming last month,” Shang said.

“Xu Yuan will now play with Han Duan up front. She’s a player with more comprehensive skill and as good as Ma in front of goal.”

Despite recent domination by the two East Asian giants, this year’s eight-team event is expected to be one of the most open in years.

Australia, who lost on penalties to China in the 2006 final in Adelaide, are aiming to win the Asian Cup at their third attempt since becoming a member of the AFC.

Coach Tom Sermanni is back for his third Asian Cup with a strong squad that includes US-based strikers Sarah Walsh and Lisa De Vanna and Europe-based duo Heather Garriock and Kate Gill.

Korea Republic, whose star player Lee Jang-mi plays for Frankfurt in Germany, are another strong contender and beat Japan in the group stage two years ago only to miss out on the semi-finals due to goal difference.

DPR Korea and Japan are favourites to progress from Group A, where they’re grouped with Southeast Asian duo Thailand and Myanmar.

DPR Korea coach Kim Kwang-min has been moulding a young squad of players, with only the likes of striker Kim Yong-ae and midfielder Jo Yun-mi remaining from the 2008 squad. In March, the side played two friendlies against Australia in Brisbane, where they drew 2-2 and lost 3-2.

Japan, whose stars include the legendary Homare Sawa, have cause to believe they can break the DPR Korea-China stranglehold and win the title for the first time, following three appearances in the final.

Norio Sasaki’s charges beat Mexico 4-0 and 3-0 in recent friendlies and will enter the Asian Cup as the continent’s joint top-ranked side, sitting tied fifth with DPR Korea in the FIFA Women’s World Ranking.

In February, Japan beat East Asian rivals China, Korea Republic and Chinese Taipei to successfully defend the EAFF Women’s Championship title they won in Chongqing two years ago.

Japan were also Asia’s top finishers in the 2008 Olympics in China when they reached the semi-finals after beating the hosts, and now Sasaki is aiming for glory in both Chengdu and Germany.

“We aim to be the FIFA Women’s World Cup champions and we are definitely targeting the AFC Women’s Asian Cup title since it’s also the qualifying round for the World Cup,” Sasaki said.