Smith will dart from the starting line at Somerset at 9.30 a.m., leaving all others in his wake, before cruising into Bernard Park to pick up his first victory in the annual spectacle.

Possibly lost in the hoopla of Smith's rise to the role of favourite is the fact that there are several other quality runners capable of winning the race.

Mark Perry is one that warrants particular mention and has the statistics to back it up, as he has actually beaten Smith twice this year in head-to-head competition.

The first time came in January, when Perry bested his rival in the Bank of Butterfield Elite Mile, and another triumph occurred later during the Round The Town race.

Despite being shackled by knee problems for much of the year, Perry, not Smith has dominated the local scene, evidenced by his position atop the Peat Marwick Road Running Series.

"The knees unfortunately are still a little tender right on the knee cap,'' said Perry after last Sunday's End to End Relay. "They hold up pretty good for about five miles or so, but running the longer distance they may start to hurt a little more.'' He was hopeful of being able to rest this week and be able to mount a charge come Monday.

"I feel positive about it and want to enjoy it...and it would be nice to win.'' Like Smith this year, Perry entered last year's event as the pre-race pick for honours, only to wind up fourth in one hour, 18 minutes and 45 seconds, well off his best time of 1:14:50 recorded in 1986.

While easily the more accomplished over the shorter distances, his endurance in races beyond 10 kilometres is often questioned.

On several occasions he has tried to go out with the leaders and press the pace, only to fade in the latter stages and be overhauled.

Last year he along with Tracy Wright and Kevin Tucker set a blistering early pace, but all were eventually reeled in and Perry was clearly a spent man when Errol Cormack caught him at near Palm Reefs Hotel.

Runners are reminded to pick up their race numbers today between 3.30 p.m. and 6 p.m. at the Devonshire Recreation Club.

The Marathon Derby prizegiving is set for June 5 at the Leopards Club.

MARK PERRY -- Lingering knee worries