Fraser will play in the event for the first time since 2015, due to clashes with the Hong Kong Open.

Sydney’s The Lakes Golf Club hosts this year’s tournament – a course Fraser has taken a liking to.

“It’s the first one on the schedule and it’s always nice to play in it,” Fraser said.

“It’s the one we always want to play and definitely the one we want to win.

“I’ve been doing some work with my coach Denis McDade and I feel like I’ve got all the basics right and am just about ready to go.”

Fraser is very passionate about the event.

He told Macquarie Sports Radio Breakfast this week that he’d love to see the idea of playing the tournament without prize money.

“It’s obviously never going to happen, it’s more to create a point that the Australian Open is a great championship and the trophy should mean more than the prize money,” Fraser said.

“Growing up as a kid, I always used to watch the Australian Open on TV when Greg Norman and these guys were playing.

“Now to be playing (myself), it obviously means so much more than pretty much any other tournament.”

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While this year’s Open has failed to attract any of the world’s top-25 players, Fraser isn’t underestimating the strength of the field.

“We can’t expect Adam (Scott), Jason (Day) and (Marc) Leishman to come back and play every single year,” Fraser said.

“They might miss one or two here and there, so we’re pretty lucky to have those guys most of the time.

“It’s a shame they’re not here this time, but they’ve all got young families and a schedule overseas they’re committed to.”

Fraser played Wednesdays’ pro-am with former AFL star Brendon Goddard – who will caddy for him at next week’s Hong Kong Open.

“It will be a bit of fun, we’re obviously good mates and he’s a golf tragic,” he said.

“It will be different to other weeks when you’ve a good mate on the bag.”

Two-time Australian Open champion Robert Allenby and Japanese amateur Takumi Kanaya feature in Fraser’s group at 6.55am.

Wodonga’s Zach Murray kick-offs his first Australian Open campaign as a professional at 12.05pm, alongside Todd Sinnott and amateur Connor Fewkes.

Yarrawonga’s Adam Burdett has been grouped with Matthew Giles and Anthony Choat and will start his round at 7am.

Cameron Davis is the defending champion.