but he'll need a little help from a friend.

Comfortable winner of last Sunday's Athletic Club 5K, Donawa tomorrow pairs up with Glennis Benjamin for the highly popular Fidelity Couples race in which the men run over a five mile course and the women over 5K -- the overall results being determined by aggregate time.

And on paper Donawa and Benjamin appear to be the team to beat.

Organisers have again seeded a number of leading male and female runners, disqualifying them from running together in the Open division. Donawa, of course, is seeded but not Benjamin who, while never having won a local race, regularly places among the top ten women.

Brett Forgesson, meanwhile, will partner Anna Eatherley, but because both are seeded they can compete only in the married couples category where Harry and Lynn Patchett are expected to be their main competition.

The Masters (over 40) division could prove one of the most competitive with Andre Doble and Kim Mason slightly favoured over May 24 Marathon winner Jane Christie and partner Adrian Robson.

The race gets underway outside the Fidelity offices on East Broadway at 9.00 a.m.