Phase two of Alexei Popyrin's grand plan will begin with an all-Australian clash against Chris O’Connell forming part of an intriguing Brisbane International first round.
The pair will headline the action on Pat Rafter Arena on Sunday night in the popular tournament's first staging as a mixed gender showpiece since 2019.
Thanasi Kokkinakis will play up-and-comer Rinky Hijikata and Jordan Thompson will meet Aleksandar Vukic - the pair ranked 55 and 62 respectively - no earlier than Monday after the draw for the reborn tournament was revealed on Saturday.
Rafael Nadal will play a qualifier in his return from a long-term hip injury - also no sooner than Monday - while Max Purcell, who soared to 45 in the world this year, drew Denmark's top-seeded world No.8 Holger Rune.
Andy Murray will face Grigor Dimitrov in a replay of the Brisbane 2013 final won by the Scot, while late wildcard Jason Kubler meets tough Russian Aslan Karatsev.
For Popyrin, now ranked 40 in the world, 2024 represents phase two of a progression that's been years in the making.
The 24-year-old is ambitious to turn his many grand slam cameo acts - he's reached the Australian Open third round three times and the US Open third round twice - into something more substantial.
"The goal this year is to go (into the) second week of slams," he said ahead of a meeting with the in-form world No.68 O'Connell.
"I've been in third rounds multiple times in different slams and I do believe I have the game.
"I've always had the game and belief I could get into the top 50; it was a matter of me just doing it."
He credited coaches Neville Godwin and Xavier Malisse, whom he sees on a rotating basis, and other support staff for putting him on the cusp of an Australian Open seeding six years after he won on his Melbourne Park debut.
"The team I've invested in is paying off - slowly, but it is paying off," he said.
"We've done the first part of what we've set out to do, now next year hopefully take a few more steps."
The top 16 women's seeds have first-round byes but headliner Naomi Osaka's first match back since the birth of her daughter in June will be against German world No.84 Tamara Korpatsch no sooner than Monday.
Arina Rodionova, Australia's top-ranked woman at No.114, begins her campaign against top-20 Italian talent Martina Trevisan on Pat Rafter Arena on Sunday, while wildcards Kimberly Birrell and Daria Saville will both face qualifiers in the first round.
A further 10 Australians could still land main draw spots if they progress through qualifying on Saturday and Sunday.
BRISBANE FIRST-ROUND HIGHLIGHTS:
* Alexei Popyrin v Chris O’Connell
* Max Purcell v Holger Rune
* Jordan Thompson v Aleksandar Vukic
* Thanasi Kokkinakis v Rinky Hijikata
* Jason Kubler v Aslan Karatsev
* Andy Murray v Grigor Dimitrov
* Rafael Nadal v qualifier
* Naomi Osaka v Tamara Korpatsch.
