Thistlecrack is the star name amongst 10 possible runners in the galliardhomes.com Cleeve Hurdle at Cheltenham on Saturday.
Colin Tizzard's eight-year-old heads ante-post lists for the World Hurdle at the Festival in March having impressed in the Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury and the Long Walk at Ascot.
His task if turning out this weekend will not be straightforward, however, with some interesting rivals potentially taking him on.
Camping Ground is set to be stepped up to three miles for the first time by trainer Robert Walford after blitzing his rivals in the two-and-a-half-mile Relkeel Hurdle at Cheltenham on New Year's Day.
The Mouse Morris-trained Alpha Des Obeaux holds an entry, just nine days after a comfortable win in the Galmoy Hurdle at Gowran, but will not make the journey from Ireland.
Morris said: "We entered him for the race last week, but he won't be going now.
"He's come out of Gowran well."
There may still be an Irish challenger, with Guitar Pete in the mix for Sandra Hughes.
George Charlton's admirable teenager Knockara Beau was a shock 66-1 winner of this Grade Two prize two years ago and is set to line up once more, while smart chasers Ptit Zig and The Young Master could revert to hurdles.
Part-owner Robert Waley-Cohen said of the latter: "He'll run in the Cleeve Hurdle on Saturday then he will go back chasing, that's the plan."
Anteros, The Romford Pele and Kayflin complete the list.