Australian No.1s Lleyton Hewitt and Samantha Stosur will spearhead the local charge at the 2010 Medibank International in Sydney in January.
They will be joined in a star-studded field by the likes of Gael Monfils, David Nalbandian, Tomas Berdych, Serena Williams, Elena Dementieva and Victoria Azarenka.
Hewitt, who has soared to No.23 in the world after plummeting as low as 108 earlier in the year after a serious hip injury cruelled the second half of 2008, will be gunning for a fifth crown in Sydney.
"It's a fantastic tournament, really well run and I love playing out there at Sydney Olympic Park," he said.
"I've played some really great matches there over the years and for me it really is the best preparation heading into the Australian Open."
Hewitt, who lost to eventual champion Nalbandian in the quarter-finals of last year's event, said it provided the ideal preparation for the year's opening Grand Slam at Melbourne Park.
"It was a really strong event and really kick-started the year for me. I get great support out there on Ken Rosewall Arena and it would be nice to get a fifth title in January next year," he said.
Stosur is hoping to consolidate her position inside the top 20 on the WTA rankings following a breakthrough season in 2009.
The 25-year-old Queenslander, a finalist at the Medibank International Sydney in 2005, raced up the rankings this year to a career-high 13 in September thanks mainly to a semi-final appearance at Roland Garros in June. She is currently at No.15.
"It's always nice to play in Sydney. I've played some really great matches there, particularly last year (against Williams), and I really enjoy being there. It feels like I am playing at home," Stosur said.
Monfils, who defeated Hewitt in three sets at the Shanghai Masters on Wednesday night, confirmed his appearance in Sydney on Thursday.
The Frenchman reached a career-high ranking of No.9 in March this year and is coached by Australian Roger Rasheed.
"It will be my first time in Sydney. I have never been there before and have heard a lot of good things about the city and the event, so I am really looking forward to coming to Sydney next year," Monfils said.
"I've heard there is a great atmosphere in Sydney and the people are very friendly, so I am excited about playing there."
Meanwhile, Williams – who recently regained the world No.1 ranking - said she was thrilled to be heading back to Sydney for the January 10-16 event.
She returned to the Medibank International Sydney this year after a five-year absence and reached the semi-finals before falling to eventual champion Dementieva. Along the way Williams saved four match points in a blockbuster first-round encounter with Stosur before saving another three match points against Caroline Wozniacki in the quarter-finals.
"Sydney is a good place to kick off the year; a great warm-up for the Australian Open," she said.
"It was good getting through those tough matches in the heat (against Stosur and Wozniacki) in Sydney and at the end of the day it really helped me prepare for Melbourne."
More players will be announced before entries close at the end of November.