Home riders can be expected to feature prominently, especially in the women's contest, where Lucinda Brand leads an all-Dutch top three in the overall standings.

Brand has won all three events so far to earn the maximum 120 points.

World and European champion Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado is second, following three top-four finishes, and has 77 points.

This means victory for Brand - and the 40 points that come with it - would secure the overall crown.

With 68 points, Denise Betsema is third.

American Clara Honsinger is also a rider to watch, having produced back-to-back second-place finishes after missing the first race of the World Cup season.

Belgian Wout van Aert tops the men's standings after a win on home soil in Dendermonde last time out.

Van Aert has 95 points, with compatriot Michael Vanthourenhout closest to him on 84.

Dutchman Mathieu van der Poel - first and second in the last two races after missing the season opener - is likely to lead the home charge along with Corné van Kessel.

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the UCI was forced to adapt the Cyclo-Cross World Cup calendar, and there will only be men's and women's elite races in Hulst.

Overijse in Belgium is due to stage the season-ending event later this month, on January 24.

A total of 14 World Cup events had ben planned in 2020-2021, an increase from nine, but nine were cancelled because of the health crisis.