Defending champion Srba Nikolic will renew his rivalry with Eduard Tukhbatullin as he bids to retain his men's marathon title tomorrow.

Nikolic, the Yugolsav who prevented a hat-trick of Russian victories with his win, admitted after last year's slow but highly tactical race that he had been upset that Tukhbatullin had seemingly declined an offer to work together when both broke away at the 16-mile mark.

After the Russian spurned him, he made a further move three miles later to break the Front Street tape in 2:26.56, more than two minutes ahead of Tukhbatullin.

Tukhbatullin's time itself was a surprise for someone with a personal best of 2:12 over the distance and who came seventh in the World Championships in Athens in 1997.

But Russian team manager Sergei Krasnoshchekov is forecasting a Tukhbatullin win this time out, even going so far as to suggest International Race Weekend organiser Philip Guishard had pulled off something of a coup in getting him to compete for the mere price of an air ticket.

Krasnoshchekov said of the one-time Hamburg Marathon winner: "He's undoubtedly one of the biggest names you have got here this year.'' Strangely enough, though, it was not the name of Tukhbatullin but of fellow Russian Alexei Volgen that was of most concern to Nikolic -- not that he could put his finger on why.

"I have heard that he is running,'' said Nikolic. "I do not know much about him but I recognise the name.'' Krasnoshchekov was able to fill out the picture.

"He's a world-class performer in ultras,'' he said. "He won the 1994 World Challenge over 100K in Japan in a very good time of six hours, 20 minutes and has come third three times in the Comrades marathon in South Africa.'' A further threat to Nikolic will come from Volgen's compatriot Gennadiy Panin, who has recorded good times over shorter distances but will be competing in only his fifth marathon.

His best performance came in the 1997 Amsterdam event when he clocked a time of 2:17 after building his athletic reputation indoors as a four-time Russian steeplechase champion.

Nikolic himself was making no predictions of a second successive victory.

"You never can say before a race. There are so many different things to take into account -- the weather, the leaders, how your body feels on the day and your emotional state.'' Nikolic, who used his triumph as a springboard for further success in California where he improved on his Bermuda time by five minutes, expects another tactical race.

"My decision is always to follow the other runners, not to go out as the leader. But when you decide to move you have to keep going even if you think you are crazy. You can't go back or you have lost.

"In this event it is not time that is crucial. It is important to be in the top three. Position is more important than time.'' Meanwhile, Ukrainian Yelena Plastinina, who walked away $13,000 richer after her record-breaking performance last year, will be hoping to retain her crown in the women's marathon.

But the dark horse who might spoil her day is another Russian, Anfisa Kosachyova, who was her country's champion in 1997.

However, Krasnoshchekov said: "We really don't know what sort of shape she is in and how comfortable she will be with these conditions.'' Plastinina, for her part, was either being unnecessarily modest or attempting to take the pressure off herself when she spoke of her chances of a repeat win.

Talking through an interpreter, Plastinina, who shook nearly two minutes off England's Sally Eastall's previous record when she recorded 2:40.50 12 months ago, said: "It's easier to win than to defend the next year when you are the focus of attention.'' RACE REPEAT? -- Defending marathon champions Srba Nikolic (above) and Yelena Plastinina (below) will both be out to retain their titles in tomorrow's 26.2 miler.