Competition is set to take place at the Tomakomai Highland Sports Center from tomorrow until Sunday (November 25).

The event, the first outdoor Speed Skating World Cup for 10 years, follows on from the season-opener, held in the Japanese city of Obihiro last week.

Japan's team pursuit squad, including Ayano Sato and Miho and Nana Takagi, will bid for a second consecutive victory following their triumph in Obihiro.

Russia will aim to prove their win last weekend was no fluke when they compete in the men's team pursuit event.

Japan are also hoping for individual success in Tomakomai, with Nao Kodaira bidding for her 19th World Cup success in the women's 500 metres event.

The reigning Olympic 500m champion is also entered in the 1,000m, where she will hope for a better result than the bronze medal she claimed in Obihiro.

Austria's Vanessa Herzog, winner of the first 1,000m event of the season, is expected to be Kodaira's main challenger.

Russia's Pavel Kulizhnikov and reigning Olympic champion Håvard Lorentzen, could clash for the 500m honours, while the Japanese duo of Tatsuya Shinhama and Ryohei Haga will aim to spring a surprise.

The women's 1,500m pits current World Cup leader Brittany Bowe of the United States against Miho Takagi of Japan and Olympic Champion Ireen Wüst of The Netherlands.

Russian Denis Yuskov, the men's 1,500m world record holder, and Olympic gold medallist Kjeld Nuis will be the ones to watch in the men's 1,500m.

Action in the women's 3,000m, men's 500m and mass start events is also on the schedule in Tomakomai.