Commonwealth 5000 metres silver medallist Jo Pavey will open her competitive season at the Great Ireland Run in Dublin on April 6.

Pavey will return from a highly successful altitude training camp in Dullstroom, South Africa, in her bid to become the first English winner of the 10-kilometres race.

It will not be an easy task, however, as organisers have attracted two outstanding distance running stars, Benita Johnson and Aniko Kalovics, to the event in Phoenix Park.

Australia's Johnson won the 2004 World Cross Country title while Kalovics, from Hungary, is a former EuroCross bronze medallist.

"It should be another great race given all three of them are so closely matched, and let's not rule out Victoria Mitchell," said Andy Caine the meeting's elite road running manager.

Australian Mitchell, a training partner of Ireland's legendary Sonia O'Sullivan, won last year's race with a speedy break for home three kilometres from the finishing line.

"She's a great talent for the future and I'm delighted that she came out the winner," said O'Sullivan, who will fly in from a three months spell in Melbourne after the Easter holidays.

O'Sullivan herself will be competing but stressed that, after making her last professional road-running appearance on home turf in the event 12 months ago, it will be with the thousands of leisure entrants.

"This year I will be running in the mass participation race and I hope to have the backing of plenty runners from Cork as we challenge for the Ronnie Delany County Cup." said O'Sullivan.

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