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NZ triathlete Sam Warriner - Source: ONE Sport
Sam Warriner, the world No 1-ranked women's triathlete, is a late entry for the national tri-series race at Takapuna in Auckland on Saturday.
The race is shaping as one of the best in New Zealand outside of world championships and World Cup events.
Among the field are seven athletes ranked inside the top 11 in the world.
Warriner's entry sees four of the top 10 women in the sport on current International Triathlon Union rankings lining up for the event.
The others are Sweden's world number seven, number eight Debbie Tanner and number nine Hewitt.
Not to be discounted is South African Kate Roberts, who at number 40 is also capable of mixing it with the higher ranked athletes.
Warriner is racing just two weeks after winning the Geelong half ironman.
It will be a test of her endurance and versatility over the shorter course, involving a 500m swim, 16km bike and 4.65km run.
In the men's race, world number two Bevan Docherty and number four Kris Gemmell are expected to fight it out but French world number eleven Laurent Vidal and a host of young New Zealanders will keep them honest.
You can watch all the action from the NZ Tri-Series live and exclusive on TV1 from 4pm on Saturday.
