The 2011 Berlin Marathon bronze medalist Edwin Kimaiyo will be hoping to debut the 2023 season on a high with a win at the 44th edition of the Stockholm Marathon, Sweden on June 3.
Kimaiyo will be joined by fellow countrymen Robert Kipkemboi and Shadrack Kimining in the Scandinavian nation.
Kimaiyo last raced in October last year at the Munich Marathon where he finished fifth in 2:11:02 a race won by compatriot Philemon Kipchumba in 2:07:28.
The 37-year-old will be aiming to lower his personal best of 2:09:12 that he set at the Shanghai Marathon, China in November 2017.
The Kenyan trio will face stiff competition from an Ethiopian quintet led by the world junior record holder Tsegaye Mekonnen.
Mekonnen caused a major upset in the world of athletics when he won the Dubai Marathon in 2014 aged just 19 years old in a time of 2:04:32 to set the the unofficial world junior record.
Others who will pose a threat to the Kenyans include; Ethiopia's Ashenafi Moges, Zewdu Hailu, Derara Hurisa and Fikre Workneh, Eritrea's Berhane Tesfay and Mao Ako from Tanzania.
The course record is held by Ethiopia's Nigussie Sahlesilassie 2:10:10 a time he set in 2019.