Cape Town - Alex Levy will be hoping to draw on the memories of his 2018 victory at the Trophée Hassan II when he returns to the Red Course at Royal Golf Dar Es Salam to defend his title this week.

Levy has started the 2019 Race to Dubai campaign strongly, claiming a top five at the lucrative Saudi International, but he has not made an appearance on the European Tour since being forced to withdraw from the Oman Open at the start of March due to a back injury.

"Yeah, it's nice to be here and play that kind of golf course. But I haven't played for almost three months, so it's nice to be back in a place you like and you want to play," said Levy.

The Frenchman will make his return on a happy hunting ground, having claimed his fifth European Tour win in Morocco last year when he beat Spain's Alvaro Quiros to the coveted bejewelled dagger trophy by one stroke.

"I'm pleased to be here... It's a tough golf course, and for sure, I played with some good memories of last year, so I'm happy to be here. I know I can play well on this golf course. I usually shoot a low score when I won tournaments, so last year was different - I won on 8-under," said Levy.

Victory in Rabat laid the platform for another successful year on the European Tour as the 28-year-old went on to finish 30th on the Race to Dubai Rankings.

"I think if you drive well the ball and putt well, I think that's the key on this golf course. Also, it's a tough golf course because when it's windy, the wind switch a lot and it's not easy, but yeah, I think you just have to play target golf, and on some flags, you can be offensive. Yeah, it's a golf course I like," said the Frenchman.

Also feeling fresh after a three-week break is Spain's Jorge Campillo, who believes he is edging closer to a first European Tour title. The Spaniard finished runner-up twice, and third once, in four appearances in March.

Another player who has recently made his return from injury is America's Julian Suri. After missing the first five months of the season, Suri made his comeback at the Maybank Championship, where he finished in a share of 20th place, and then came joint-fourth at the Indian Open. This will be his first appearance on the demanding par-73 Red Course at Royal Golf Dar Es Salam.

The previous eight winners of the Trophée Hassan II are in the field this week, including 2017 champion Edoardo Molinari of Italy and South Korea's Jeunghun Wang, who won in 2016 at the age of just 20 years and 256 days.