The club's top men's team features four newcomers as it looks to defend its Lovelock Relay title at the University of Otago Oval today.
in the race, run annually since 1937, to commemorate Jack Lovelock's Olympic gold medal in the 1500m the year before, each runner completes a 1500m leg around the grass track.
Sam Bremer and Kirk Madgwick return from last year's champion Hill City-University team.
Joining them are Wellington duo Matthew Sutcliffe and Joel Carmen, Taranaki's Rory Bevins and Tauranga's Russell Green.
The quartet have all moved south for university, providing some fresh quality to the region.
Both Ollie O'Sullivan and youngster Josh Hou will run in the club's second team, another pointer to the depth it possesses.
Leith and Caversham will both look to take the title off the host club.
Nathan Hill is a quality runner and leads a Leith team which also includes Stauffenberg brothers Janus and Julius.
Caversham boasts Jonah Hill and Nic Bathgate.
In the senior women's race, made up of four-runner teams, Hill City-University has a more familiar look.
Rebekah Greene has reinstated herself as one of the country's classiest middle-distance runners.
She joins Margie Campbell, Laura Bungard and Rebecca Allnut to form a quality line-up.
They will enter as favourites to defend their title, although both Leith and Caversham will offer handy competition.
The women's race begins at 2.55pm and the men follow at 3.20pm.
Junior, masters and social races will be held earlier.
Bremer, who has several track national medals to his name, said it was a key event to start the winter season.
"I think it sort of sets the stage for the whole rest of the season, which is quite cool.
"In terms of a team event it's probably the most prestigious relay of the year.
"It's good because it suits a range of athletes.
"It's the right distance for me, it's right in my wheelhouse.
"But it's on grass so it suits a lot of the longer guys as well, so it's a bit more strength-based. It's quite a good middle ground for a lot of runners."
