Two-time Olympic and world 1,500 m champion Faith Kipyegon will renew her rivalry with Scotland's Laura Muir in the Diamond League meeting in Florence on Thursday.
Two years ago, Kipyegon lost to Dutchwoman Sifan Hassan in one of the most memorable races and will be aiming to continue her rich vein of form in the build-up to the World Championships in Budapest in August.
Kipyegon, who set the national record in 3:53.91 in Florence in 2021, boasts two Olympic titles in the 1,500m and as many world gold medals.
She has the second-best performance ever (3:50.37), which is three-tenths off Genzebe Dibaba's record).
At her season debut in Doha, she has already clocked 3:58.57. Muir, the iron Scotswoman, is European champion in the last two consecutive editions, Olympic silver medallist, and world bronze medallist.
She also holds the British record with 3:54.50 and she is a two-time Diamond League champion. In 2023, she won the European indoor title and is expected in Florence for the season's outdoor debut.
World 3000 SC record holder Beatrice Chepkoech faces a stern test in the barriers event.
Chepkoech, a former world champion, and two-time Diamond League winner, will face former World champion Emma Coburn of the USA and the Ethiopian trio of Mekides Abebe, Sembo Alemayehu, and Zarfe Wondemagegn
Chepkoech will have fellow Kenyans Jackline Chepkoech, Fancy Cherono, and Faith Cherotich, for company.
Bahrain's Winfred Yavi, winner in Doha early this month, will be in contention alongside the Slovenian record holder Marusa Mismas-Zrimsek, the French record holder Alice Finot, the Tunisian Marwa Bouzayani, American Courtney Wayment, Canadian Regan Yee and the Ukrainian Nataliya Strebkova.
World 5,000m silver medalist, Jacob Krop will also be making his debut in the Diamond League this weekend. Krop said he is targeting to record better results ahead of the Budapest show.
“This is part of my build-up for the World Championships in Budapest and that is why I will give it my best shot," noted Krop.
He said his mission in Budapest will be to improve on his second-place finish at the World Championships in Eugene, Oregon.
“This will be a great opportunity for me to prove a point after placing second last year," he noted.