They will, as well as challenging for the men’s and women’s singles, combine to have a crack at the mixed pairs title.
Lowery has been drawn in the same singles group as the defending champion, Gary Pitschou, from Guernsey, and the two are certain to enjoy a typically tough inter-insular battle.
Both will realise that the biggest threat in the group comes from Norfolk pest-controller Mervyn King, who won the equivalent World Bowls Tour (WBT) title at Potters Leisure Resort in 2006.
Opening with a tricky match against John Boyd, the champion of the host country, Lowery’s task will be to finish the group stage in the top two, in order to clinch a place in Saturday’s semi finals.
Completing the group is Malaysian Salahuddin Razali, a relatively unknown Malaysian – but, given his country’s rise up the world rankings, he could prove to be difficult player to beat.
In the women’s event, Thomas will face England’s legendary Carol Ashby, who recently won the British Isles indoor singles title at Belfast, Scotland’s Claire Johnstone, Malaysian Azlina Arshad and Rita Callan, from the Isle of Man.
Thomas opens her bid against Ashby – the toughest possible start – tomorrow afternoon, but will at least have the benefit of warming up in the mixed pairs with Lowery before lunch.
The Jersey duo, drawn to play in the preliminary round, face Scottish duo Johnstone and Ian McLean for a place in the quarter finals.
