Palmer has won four British Opens and two World Opens in an illustrious career that has already seen him labeled as one of the sport’s all time greats.

But strangely the 32-year-old from Lithgow in New South Wales has never won an Australian Open.

He said getting his name on the trophy alongside players such as Geoff Hunt, Chris Dittmar, Rodney Eyles and Rod and Brett Martin was the prime reason for returning home from his base in the US city of Boston.

The Australian Open will be played on an all-glass court in Clare from July 29-August 3.

Palmer has been seeded number one in the men’s draw, while former champion Kasey Brown is the women’s top seed.

“Clare hosted the championships for the first time last year and did an outstanding job,” Squash Australia chief executive officer Gary O’Donnell said.

“The glass court was set up in the town’s newly developed sports stadium and the people really embraced the tournament.”

The 2008 field boasts a large international contingent, with Australian players being joined by those from New Zealand, Hong Kong, South Africa, Pakistan, India, England, Ireland and Wales.

“It’s pleasing to see so many international players coming out this year,” tournament organiser Des Panizza said.

“The field is stronger than last year and features a host of top class players in the main draw, and also in qualifying.

“It really shows to us that the Australian Open is on the way up in terms of the overall quality of players it attracts.”

While Palmer is the obvious favourite in the men’s draw in the absence of defending champion Stewart Boswell, his challengers are all evenly matched.

England’s Chris Ryder is the likely second seed ahead of New Zealander Kashif Shuja and Hobart’s Aaron Frankcomb.

Hot on their heels will be New South Wales pair Scott Arnold and Ryan Cuskelly and Queenslander Bradley Hindle, while Pakistan’s Khawaja Adil Maqbool should round out the seedings.

Dangerous floaters in the draw will be resurgent Queenslander Steve Finitsis and Englishman Robbie Temple, while Hong Kong’s Dick Lau could cause havoc if he wins his way through qualifying.

The women’s draw is wide open, with Brown certain to face stiff competition from second seeded Kiwi Jaclyn Hawkes, only five places below the Australian on the world rankings.

Rising Australian star Donna Urquhart is the third seed with Hong Kong’s Christina Mak rounding out the top four.

The rest of the seedings are Victoria’s Amelia Pittock (4), Queenslander Lisa Camilleri (6), Annie Au of Hong Kong (7), and Kiwi Joelle King (8).

There will also be a new women’s champion in 2008 with New Zealand’s Shelley Kitchen committed to a tournament in Singapore and unable to defend her title.

Brown, who won in 2006 and was runner-up to Kitchen last year, said she was hoping to become the first multiple winner of the Australian Open since Sarah Fitz-Gerald, who won the last of her four titles in 2002.

“I’m not taking anything for granted,” the 22-year-old from Taree in New South Wales said.

“There are a lot of girls in the field who are a similar standard, so anyone could win it.

“There are also a lot of players coming who are now starting to make their mark on the professional game after good junior careers.

“Hopefully I’ll have a bit too much experience for them and I can win my second title.”

The UK-based Brown has already won twice on the professional tour this year, taking the Atwater Cup in Canada in March and the Crocodile Challenge Cup in Hong Kong last month. She also took out the Australian Closed Championship in June, beating Urquhart in the final.

Qualifying for the tournament begins in Clare on July 29 with the main draw starting on Thursday July 31. The finals will be played on Sunday, August 3