Paul Casey is hoping to spring a surprise at this week's star-studded World Golf Championships event, the HSBC Champions in Shanghai, and end a frustrating injury-hit season the way he started it.

After crashing out of last week's Volvo World Match Play Championship on the first day still suffering the effects of the rib injury which had sidelined him for three months, and despite his world number four status, Casey is certainly an outsider to add to the titles he won in Abu Dhabi, Houston and at May's BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth.

He had risen to third in the world and second in the Race to Dubai before suffering the injury during practice for The Open and was still visibly struggling with the injury during Wednesday's pro-am.

And while many in the field this week have their sights set on important earnings with the Race to Dubai nearing its conclusion and a large haul of Ryder Cup points on offer with 20 of the world's top 30 taking part, Casey has much smaller goals in his sights.

"It's is going okay. I am not at full health and full fitness, but it is nice to be out on the golf course, you can only rearrange the furniture at home so many times. The injury still pulls, it still hurts, it is on its way to be 100 per cent but I have just got to be careful," the 32-year-old said.

"But I also think that it is good enough that I can go round and shoot a decent score and get into contention. I wouldn't be here if I didn't think I could play some decent stuff.

"I really wanted to finish the season the way I started it, that would be the ultimate goal. The Race to Dubai, Ryder Cup points and world rankings are all on the goals list, but for me it about getting back out on and enjoy it and figure out how to play.

"There is no pressure on me, but I would love to get up there, get in contention."

Casey has slipped to fifth in the Race to Dubai, but despite his spell on the sidelines is still well in touch Order of Merit leader Lee Westwood with substantial prize money on offer in Shanghai and Hong Kong before the season-ending Dubai World Championship later this month.

Westwood, along with all but one of the top 15 in the Race to Dubai, tee off on Thursday as Europe's best, who now dominate the top of the world rankings, face off against FedEx Cup series winner Tiger Woods and Tour Championship winner Phil Mickelson.

"This time of year they are all big tournaments and even though they aren't any more important than the tournaments the rest of the year, it is coming down to the end of the Order of Merit and there is more of a highlight on them," Westwood said.

"I am feeling good. I am in the best position on the Order of Merit and I don't need any more motivation than that."

World number one Woods is out to maintain his impressive WGC record, which stands at 16 titles from 30 events after winning August's Bridgestone Invitational,

"I have a simple strategy, and that is to finish lower than anyone else. It is just one of those things that I have enjoyed playing against such great fields" said Woods, the runner-up on his last two visits to Shanghai.

"That's the whole idea of the World Golf Championships, so it is not only the majors when we all get together, it's now these World Golf events. It's great to get together with these guys, and for some reason, I have had some good results."

Sergio Garcia also seeks to defend the title he won 12 months ago, while Singapore Open champion Ian Poulter and Volvo World Match Play Championship winner Ross Fisher look to consolidate their career-high positions inside the top 20 in the world.