After recording a personal best time to place third among the women during last year's Bermuda Day Marathon Derby, Lynn Patchett remains confident she can take it to the next level this time around and replace Anna Eatherley at the summit.

And while four-time defending women's champion Eatherley battles to regain race-day fitness after succumbing to the flu-bug, Patchett says she's in very good physical condition and hopes to have another good race on the day.

"I am looking to challenge Anna," said Patchett, who will be entering her seventh marathon derby and recorded a time of 1:31.50 last time out.

"My preparations have gone just as I've wanted them to go.

"I'm hoping to run steadily on the day. Run a strategic and smart race and take heed of all the conditions because humidity is a big factor.

"I'm in very good condition at the moment and so far this year in most of the races that I have participated in I have managed to run personal bests.

"It's a hard course and a hard run, but I feel strong. So we will just have to wait and see how it goes on the day."

Patchett finished just six seconds behind eventual winner Eatherley during the recent Maple Leaf 10K, but with this year's race course having been slightly extended, Patchett added: "The longer the distance the better it will be for me.

"But regardless of where it finishes, from start to finish everybody has to run the same race, so it shouldn't be a factor. I will just put on my shoes and give it my best shot."

Meanwhile, Manuel Lopes, who was sixth overall last year and the first Master to finish, is in a race even before May 24; a race to be fit.

An on-the-job injury three weeks ago has put a serious spoke in his Marathon Derby aspirations. However, he is optimistic that he can be among the starters tomorrow morning.

"I fell from about ten feet and I have a contusion to my right heel. I haven't trained in three weeks but I've come a long way from hobbling around two weeks ago.

"I am pretty bull-headed so I have entered and if on Friday I feel I can put my foot down and it doesn't hurt, then I'll run," said the construction worker.

Lopes reasons that he prefers to have entered and not run than not to enter and be able to run tomorrow.

"I would be very upset. At least this way I have the choice if I am feeling okay," he said.