WITH age catching up, newly formed men's doubles Tan Wee Kiong-Tan Kian Meng just want to know where they stand in world badminton.
The independent pair reached the final of the Dutch Open a fortnight ago but admitted that it was not the best tournament to gauge their true potential.
Due to their low ranking, the combination of 32-year-old Wee Kiong, a former Olympic Games silver medallist, and 27-year-old Kian Meng, a mixed doubles player with his world No 12 partner Lai Pei Jing, did not qualify for the recent Super 1000 Denmark Open in Odense.
However, both players will receive their baptism of fire when the French Open gets underway today.
Wee Kiong-Kian Meng will open against Germany's world No 18 Mark Lamfuss-Marvin Seidel.
The Germans scored a stunning upset over world No 2 Mohammad Ahsan-Hendra Setiawan of Indonesia last week, before seeing off Malaysia's Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi to reach the Denmark Open semi-finals.
Wee Kiong, who previously partnered Goh V Shem, said: "Indeed age is catching up. I no longer belong to the current batch of men's doubles players.
"But I have not given up yet, hence this new partnership with Kian Meng.
"I would like to see where we stand when we play on the highest stage. That is the objective. To see if we are still relevant.
"The Dutch Open was a good start, but we cannot compare the standard when we talk about higher tier tournaments.
"The French Open is going to be tough from the start because Kian Meng and I are still starting out. We still have a lot to work on in terms of our combination.
"We will do our best and just enjoy the ride."
Also in the same half of the draw are Yew Sin-Ee Yi, who will take on Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani in the first round.
Sze Fei-Izzuddin, who were part of the Thomas Cup squad in Aarhus, did well to reach the semi-finals of the Denmark Open last week.
Tokyo Olympics bronze medallists Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik will play another newly formed partnership V Shem-Low Juan Shen in the opening round.