A rising generation of Japanese and Chinese sprinters will again square off against peerless Jamaican Usain Bolt in the Nitro Athletics series in Melbourne.
The two Asian powerhouses and England have confirmed they will enter teams for the three meets at Lakeside Stadium on February 4, 9 and 11 next year.
Australia and the Usain Bolt All-Stars are also locked in, with the sixth and final team to be announced in the next few days.
With Tokyo to host the 2020 Olympics, the Japanese track and field squad received a massive boost at the Rio Games in August when Ryota Yamagata, Shota Iizuka, Yoshihide Kiryu and Asuka Cambridge finished second behind the Bolt-inspired Jamaicans in the men's 4x100m relay final.
Twelve months earlier, China claimed world championships silver - also behind Bolt and Jamaica - in the men's 4x100m on home soil in Beijing.
"Having one team in Asia is good, but having two really strong Asian-based teams in China and Japan participating is fantastic," said Athletics Australia board member John Steffensen, who has played a key role in setting up Nitro Athletics.
"Both nations have big track and field supporter bases and we see this as an incredibly great growth opportunity to market Nitro Athletics into Asia."
The timing of the series is good for England, coming just 13 months before the 2018 Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast.
England Athletics chief executive Chris Jones has committed to sending a strong team to Melbourne.
"We are always looking for exciting and innovative ways to create new opportunities in our sport, whether for those taking their first steps into athletics and running or to offer unique challenges to those who have reached the very highest levels," Jones said.
"Travelling to Australia for Nitro Athletics also affords us the opportunity to familiarise ourselves with Australian conditions ahead of our athletes' appearance at the Commonwealth Games in 2018."
The six teams will each be made up of 12 men and 12 women.
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