The 28-year-old Kenyan, a former world half marathon and world 10 kilometres record-holder, won in New York in 2019 in 2:22:38 on her marathon debut before clocking 2:18:40 to finish second in the 2020 Valencia Marathon.

Her London winning time was only 42sec slower than the women-only race world record of 2:17:01 set by compatriot Mary Keitany in winning on the same course in 2017.

"This was my third marathon, and I have run faster each time, so this motivates me that I can do more," Jepkosgei said at last year's winners' press conference.

And her confidence was obvious at today’s press event for the elite women’s field, despite her experience at the Boston Marathon on April 18 when she dropped out of contention five kilometres from the end of a race won by her compatriot, Olympic champion Peres Jecpchirchir.

"According to my preparation I am trying to improve my personal best on Sunday - that’s my target," Jepkosgei said, adding that there had been no big changes in her preparation regime in the space of the last year.

"Training is always the same!," she said.

"I follow my programme."

Asked if the late withdrawal through injury of her compatriot Brigid Kosgei, the world record holder, had altered the way she was approaching Sunday’s race, she responded: "I have my mindset now to concentrate on Sunday and to do my best - there is no change or any impact (about Brigid dropping out)."

Reflecting on what she had learned in her marathon career so far, Jepkosgei added:

"Marathon is like opening a page every day.

"So I am improving my experience every day in the marathon, and I am now in the middle stage of getting my experience.

"It is a process of learning, so now I am learning more to get more experience in marathon, and I am happy because I debuted and won in New York, and I am here now to get more experience and maybe to run a faster time."

Meanwhile Kenya's Judith Korir, women’s marathon silver medallist at this year's World Athletics Championships in Eugene, is a late addition to the elite women's field.

Korir won this year's Paris Marathon in April before making the podium in Oregon in July.

She was originally scheduled to be a pacemaker in this year's London race but has now opted to race over the full distance.

"I am psychologically prepared to finish, and I’m excited to be running on Sunday," she said.

"I hope I will lower my personal best."

With Commonwealth 10,000m champion Eilish McColgan having made the decision earlier this month to defer her marathon debut in London until next year, the home focus will fall more firmly upon Charlotte Purdue, who ran a personal best of 2:23.26 in finishing tenth in the capital last year.

"I would definitely love to run faster this weekend," said Purdue.

"Every time I come here I do run faster and I would love to continue that although it obviously does gets harder every year.

"I’m realistic that I’m not going to improve by two minutes every single time I come to London but I will try my best to run faster on Sunday.

"I’ve done a few sessions that have been faster than last year, which is promising.2