Juan Carlos de la Ossa and Sergiy Lebid return to the Bupa Great Manchester Run on Sunday, a venue where the pair of European stars produced the finest 10 kilometre performances of their careers three years ago.

De La Ossa and Lebid may have been no match for Haile Gebrselassie, who roared to a spectacular United Kingdom all-comers' record of 27 minutes 25 seconds, but they cherished their performances that day nonetheless.

De La Ossa became the first Spaniard to break 28 minutes on the roads for the distance - lowering the national record to 27min 55sec behind the great Ethiopian star.

Lebid beat his own Ukrainian record when steering himself to a most satisfying mark of 28min 14sec.

Now the pair who have fought some magnificent European cross-country duels over the past decade, line up for what promises to be a very open 2008 race.

Luke Kibet, the reigning world marathon champion, will be aiming to keep the title in Kenyan hands after Micah Kogo sensationally lowered Gebrselassie's all-comers' mark to 27min 21sec last May.

Kibet will be racing under-distance but with plenty of strength and determination, and he has the ability to cope with seven-times Eurocross gold medallist Lebid and De La Ossa.

Chema Martinez the former European 10000m track title holder will also fancy his chances after winning the Madrid marathon a month ago which earned him Olympic selection for Beijing.

Chris Thompson, potentially one of the most talented British runners but constantly hit by injuries, makes a welcome return to competition along with marathon stars Dan Robinson and Tomas Abyu.

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