Published Wednesday, 07 December 2011
The European Tour money list title is on the line, just as it was when McIlroy faced Lee Westwood on the same Earth course at the inaugural Dubai World Championship.
Westwood won their duel by two shots and went on to a six-stroke victory, while the young man from Holywood, Co Down, ended up third after admitting that he lost the psychological battle in that opening round.
"It was tough to fully concentrate on my own game when you're looking at the player beside you," McIlroy said.
"I feel like it's something I've learnt because when I go out with Luke in the last game I'll only be trying to concentrate on myself and making sure that I can play the best I can."
The situation this time is that the US Open Champion will become the circuit's number one only if he wins and Donald, leading by more than £680,000, finishes outside the top nine.
It is a battle between the world's top two players, with the added incentive for Donald being that nobody has ever topped the money lists in both America and Europe in the same season, and one is in the bag already.
He was well over £1m clear just over a month ago, but McIlroy kept the issue alive by taking the Hong Kong Open on Sunday - a win he clinched by sinking a bunker shot on the final hole.
Even with that, though, the most exciting young talent in golf has no doubt who is in the driving seat.
"I've still got a slim chance," he said.
"I've got to win and Luke has to finish outside the top nine or 10, whatever it is.
"I'm really not counting on him to do that because he's only finished outside the top 10 about twice this year.
"Over the last 18 months he's just been so consistent. He's deservedly the number one ranked player in the world.
"He's always had a great short game and always holes the putts that he should."