If the current Road Running League is to be considered as a yardstick, then the Village-to-Village Road Relay this afternoon promises to be another keen duel, this time for the first crown of the new year.
There is no question that, barring injuries, all clubs that shared the limelight these last few seasons possess enough talent for the title to go anywhere.
Indeed, St Patrick's AC, sporting among others Jonathan Balzan and Drew Lang and boasting the most prominent members from the senior categories, have a tough job ahead if they are to wrest the title from Libertas, the 2003 winners.
Libertas have a top-quality line-up in Gerald Grech, Ricky Baldacchino, Charles Cilia and Peter Azzopardi. Certainly, they will have no intention of giving away the relay title that easy.
However, both Libertas and St Patrick's would do well to heed the challenge from so-called outsiders Birkirkara St Joseph, led by the in-form John Buhagiar, and Zurrieq Wolves. Even dark horses Mellieha AC and Pembroke Athleta Kyocera could offer stiff resistance.
Likewise, Allcomers AC, with a glorious past and leading protagonists on the track, have recently been going from strength to strength and may well present a young formation certainly not devoid of talent.
The course, adopted these last three years in the south, presents first-leg runners with a daunting uphill slog immediately after the first 100 metres from the start adjacent to the Casino di Venezia on Vittoriosa quay.
The route then heads down to Kalkara Bay and up to Bighi before descending once more to sea level where the runners head for Ricasoli. At this point a semblance of normality returns to the course.
The changeover, on the outskirts of Zabbar, will see fresh legs eating up the road down to Marsascala and on to St Thomas Bay. On to the third leg, along the quiet country roads past Zejtun, the route will once again bring the runners down to sea level, where on Marsaxlokk quay the fourth runners take off on the final and shortest leg towards Pretty Bay Birzebbuga, in search of the ultimate glory.
The ladies' team title will be contested on the same route but with fewer runners involved competition is not expected to be as tough as in the men's class.
St Patrick's AC have enough fire-power to make it a double, if not a treble... they also sport a talented junior boys' team.
The main challenge for the girls in yellow and green may come from Zurrieq Wolves but Pembroke Athleta Kyocera and, possibly AS Libertas plus a team from the Ladies Running Club, may add some spice to the competition.
St Patrick's AC's main challengers in the boys relay is set to arrive from Savio College who seem to be the only outfit from the schools to back athletics as a practised sport.
The Village-to-Village race starts at 2 p.m.