Andreev was the victor in the men's individual competition last year at the same venue and his looking to secure his eighth world title. 

He is in good form going into the event, having triumphed at the inaugural Winter Triathlon World Cup event in the Chinese city of Harbin at the start of the year. 

Compatriots Evgenii Evgrafov, Pavel Yakimov and Dmitriy Bregeda, who all finished just behind Andreev in Harbin, are considered his main opponents. 

Giuseppe Lamastra and Daniel Antonioli lead home hopes, with the latter making the world podium in 2016. 

The top two Russian winter triathletes are expected to be in action in the women's contest. 

Rogozina is the current holder of the world and European crowns, while Yulia Surikova is a two-times world champion. 

Austrian Romana Slavinec will be aiming to improve on her bronze medal last year after collecting seven national titles and the world title as an under-23 in 2012. 

All three athletes will have a strong opponent in local hero Sandra Mairhofer, who is gunning for her first-ever podium finish at a World Championships. 

Competitors will start with running four laps of 1.765 kilometres, followed by a 12km bike ride, with both legs over snow. 

They are then set to finish with 10km of cross-country skiing. 

The men and women's races are scheduled for tomorrow morning, followed by action in the junior category. 

A 2x2 mixed relay is due to take place on Sunday (February 9), with a Para-triathlon event then concluding competition.