A relaxed Sally Pearson will look to claim an early psychological edge over Jasmin Stowers when she squares off for the first time against the rising US hurdles star at the opening Diamond League meet in Doha.
Stowers has burst onto the world track scene in spectacular style this year, twice smashing her personal best with 12.40 seconds on home soil and 12.39 last weekend in Jamaica - times which the Australian has not bettered since 2012.
But Pearson is feeling confident, especially as she has rediscovered her trademark lightning speed out of the blocks under the tutelage of new coach Ash Mahoney.
The reigning Olympic champion was happy with victory last weekend in Japan in 12.66 - when she left crack American duo Kristi Castlin and Queen Harrison in her wake - and full of belief she could up the ante still further in Doha on Friday night (early Saturday AEST).
"They were two of the girls who were constantly ahead of me throughout the season last year so for me to be able come out ahead of them in the race was really exciting for me," said Pearson.
If I can get a really good race on Friday night that will even help boost me more.
"If I can get out ahead of these girls I am confident I can stay ahead of them - I just have to make sure that I hang on in the end.
"I feel like I'm almost back to my normal self coming out of the blocks and over the first few hurdles so that is really exciting for me."
The United States has a long and proud history of producing great male and female sprint hurdlers, with the 23-year-old Stowers the latest to roll off the assembly line.
"You know how much I love racing and being competitive so I'm really looking forward to racing her and seeing what we both can do," said Pearson.
"For me it's a matter of going out there in good shape and seeing what I can do because I haven't felt that for a long time coming into a European season."
The strong field also includes 2008 Olympic champion Dawn Harper-Nelson from the US, British star Tiffany Porter, Castlin and Harrison.
The other Australians competing in the opening leg of the 14-meet Diamond League series in Doha are 2009 discus world champion Dani Samuels, the fast-improving Madeline Heiner in the 3000m steeplechase and javelin thrower Hamish Peacock.
Javelin duo Kim Mickle and Kathryn Mitchell and two-time Commonwealth pole vault champion Alana Boyd will be in action in the second Diamond League meet in Shanghai on Sunday.
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