Marathon Derby.

After taking the title in 2000, her third in the event, Eatherley is regarded as the hot favourite once again this year.

Just a couple of weeks ago she took the honours in the Maple Leaf 10K -- crossing the finishing line more than a minute ahead of her nearest rival, Lynn Patchett, and her form is good going into Thursday.

However, the unassuming Islander is not taking anything for granted and believes there's no such thing as a dead cert.

"I don't think that is ever the case. I have to go out there and see what happens on the day, but I am in pretty good shape,'' she said.

Eatherley did not name names, but felt there was enough competition to keep her on her toes, although Patchett appears as the only serious rival.

"There are always girls behind me that, if I falter in any way, are there to clean up,'' she said.

While she would be overjoyed to secure another victory, Eatherley said she refrained from putting pressure on herself by thinking of retaining the title.

"I don't really think about that. I just think about things like trying to do as good or better a time than I have done before. I just want to have a good race on the day,'' she said.

"If I did a better time than I have ever done and I still didn't win I would still be happy with that.'' Mother-of-two Eatherley clocked 1:24.48 last year in a race run in high humidity. As a consequence her finish was almost five minutes outside the record time set by Sandra Mewett.

She said she expected the conditions to be a factor again this year.

"I know what my best time is and I would try and be up with that,'' said Eatherley. "But it depends on the weather really. Some of my times have been back to where I was before the kids. But if it is a hot, humid day I will have to give that away for the day. If it is nice I will try for it.'' Tactically, Eatherley was not giving much away but said she would steer clear of course duels.

"I just run at a steady pace and try to maintain it the whole way,'' she said. "I wouldn't get caught up in anything. I just do my own thing.'' Meanwhile, Eatherley's husband, Brett Forgesson, is tuning up for his own run in the event.

The 37-year-old has not run competitively since completing a mammoth 63-mile trek around the Island in April after which he complained of a sore knee.

"He is not 100 percent that's for sure,'' said Eatherley. "But he still wants to do it.'' Anna Eatherley: On course for a fourth triumph in the annual Marathon Derby.