Ethiopia will be seeking a fifth successive world title in the women's 25-lap race. Two years ago in Helsinki, Tirunesh Dibaba made history by becoming the first woman to complete the 5,000m and 10,000m double at the World Championships, and she will be the woman to beat again.

Dibaba has raced only once outdoors this season - winning of the 5,000m in Paris - but it's hard to imagine that she would choose to double is she wasn't prepared. She'll be joined by compatriot Mestawet Tufa, the world leader, who looks to be the primary challenger. Tirunesh's sister, Ejegayehu Dibaba, the 2004 Olympic silver medallist, and Aheza Kiros also bolster the Ethiopian challenge

The strongest Kenyan athlete in the field is the Japanese-based Philes Ongori, who will be used to the conditions. Watch out, too, for emerging New Zealand talent Kim Smith who set a personal best of 31min 20.63sec earlier this year.

A field brimming with talent also includes former 5,000m world record-holder Elvan Abeylegesse (TUR) and past winner of the London and Chicago Marathons, Deena Kastor (USA), who has fully recovered from a cancer scare. The 2004 World Cross Country champion Benita Johnson, of Australia, also starts, as does the surprise European champion from last summer, Inga Abitova (RUS).