Joshua Ross has avoided red-hot favourite Dhruv Rodrigues-Chico in the semi-finals as he chases a history-making third Stawell Gift crown on Easter Monday.
Ross, who won his first Gift in 2003 and backed up off scratch two years later, has been drawn in the second of six semi-finals, with only the winners advancing to the final later in the day.
His biggest challenge is likely to come from Lachlan Sheffield, whose 9m handicap gives him a big headstart over the two-time Olympic 4x100m finalist.
The 38-year-old Ross is running off a 2m mark.
He is one of only three men to win two Stawell Gifts since the 120m handicap event was first contested way back in 1878.
Rodrigues-Chico is the short-priced favourite with the bookies at $1.40 after clocking the fastest heat time of 11.913 seconds on Saturday.
Backmarker Michael Romanin (1.5m) goes up against Jara Konteh (5.5m) in the first semi-final, while pre-event fancy Jason Bailey (10m) will be the man to beat in the fourth semi.
Training partners Sophie Fighera and Alexia Loizou - who boast remarkably similar records - are among the favourites to win the women's Gift.
The two 21-year-olds share identical 100m PBs of 12.06 set back in 2014 and finished first and second in the 400m at the Victorian championships earlier this year.
Both coached by Matt Carter, Fighera (5m) and Loizou (5.75m) were two of only three runners to break the 14-second barrier in Saturday's heats.
The semi-finals and finals of the men's and women's Gift take place on Easter Monday at Central Park, with both winners pocketing $40,000.
Men's Stawell Gift market (TAB)
$1.40 - Dhruv Rodrigues-Chico
$3 - Conor Loughnan
$3.75 - Leonard King
$4.50 - Jason Bailey
$7 - Joshua Ross and Lachlan Sheffield
$10 - Jara Konteh.
Australian Associated Press
