Crowe came runner-up to Michael Hosking in last year’s race and was the first local home in the Albury-Wodonga City2City event.

He consolidated his form with victories in the 10km Riverina Lighting Trail and Easter 10km Beechworth Fun Run.

The 11.3km is his preferred distance with only tough conditions robbing him of a sub-40 minute time last year.

Hosking will miss the race to compete in the World Race Walking Teams Championship in Rome on Sunday.

Ben Buckingham also looks a big chance.

He finished only a couple of hundreds metres behind Crowe last year and has a sub 40-minute time in the bank.

Riverina Endurance Trail Series Champion Aaron Knight is coming off a win at Mt Buffalo and is going from strength to strength on the trails.

It will be Knight’s 10^th crack at the race where he could make it 10 top 10‘s from 10 starts with an age bust on the cards.

He is training for selection in the vertical kilometre races in Europe this year. 

“It's a perfect suffer session because the finishing times are comparable to a European Vertical Kilometre,” Knight said.

Anthony Evans and Ben Derrick should also be prominent.

Evans is a two-time winner and Nail Can stalwart who will vie for another significant ‘Age Bust' at 46. 

Derrick, aged 43, will be aiming to be the fastest ‘Age Buster’ for 2016.

The womens' event looks like a two-way battle between locals Stacey Loccisano and Bel Ralph.

Former winners Ellie O’Kane and Cara Peake look unlikely to be making a home visit from Melbourne this year.

Nadine Barnes is a definite non-starter as she recovers from a 24-hour endurance run on the track.

Triathlete Stacey Loccisano bounds off an end of season break to earn some new suffer points.

Lisa Barry, Julie Gollan-Foard and Lauren Preston also have claims.