Canadian swimming silver medallist Lisa Blackburn will form part of a formidable trio in this weekend's Bank of Bermuda Foundation Team Triathlon.

Bermuda-born Blackburn (31), who won two silvers at the Pan-Am Games in August and is aiming for a spot on the Canadian 2004 Olympic team, will team up with fit-again cyclist Karen Smith and runner Victoria Fiddick for the event on Sunday morning.

But the threesome will not have everything their own way as another talented team of females consisting of another Canadian swimmer Anne Allain, Bermuda national team cyclist Melanie Claude and runner Anna Eatherley are expected to give them a run for their money in the race for the women's division title.

"I think that is going to be a pretty interesting competition," said race director Karen Madeiros yesterday. "And it will be really exciting to have a swimmer of Lisa's calibre participating in this event."

In the men's division, last year's individual champion, Matthew Herring, who was forced to watch this year's race from the sidelines as he continued his recovery from two ankle injuries, is set to turn out this weekend.

Herring will handle the cycling, while Bermuda national team footballer Logan Alexander will tackle the run and Trevor Johnston the swim.

"I think Matthew is having difficulty with the running aspect but I think he is going to be fine on the bike," said Madeiros.

Steven Kenny, Jason Krupp and Mark Morrison will also be teaming up in the Open division, while Kevin Insley, Gary Taylor and Riann Naude will, according to Madeiros, challenge for a top three finish and Ian Maule, Garth Thompson and Neil De St.Croix should be in the mix as well.

"We also have a very strong junior team of Dominique Nanette, Khamari Greaves and Coyatito Smith," said Madeiros. "They will be in the Junior Male Team category. I don't think they will have any competition but I think they will probably be gunning for being first overall."

In the juniors, the nine to ten-year-olds will see David Lunn and Nathan Amaral team up, while Justin Collis and Alexander McManus, who both took part in the individual triathlon last week, will be a tough proposition.

"Also I think there will be a battle in the Male Team 11 to 12 year-old division between the team of Dorian Armstrong and Tim Fox and Trey Simons and Tyree Armstrong. I think those two will be battling it out for first place," said Madeiros.

Among the girls, Jazmine Outerbridge and Martina Edney, who took top prizes in the junior duathlon event last week, face a challenge from Sophie Adams and Rebecca Heyliger.

Entries are closed but Madeiros said if anyone was still interested they could call by the Bank of Bermuda during number pick-up which is this evening (Friday) between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m.