Seamus Power's attempt to reclaim a title which was his almost by right for so long is certain to give tomorrow's National Cross Country Championship extra appeal.

After dominating domestic competition in the preceding years, Power hit unexpected problems last season and was struggling long before the Belfast man John Ferrin emerged as an improbable winner of the title at Ballybofey.

Now with different conditions likely to prevail at the ALSAA complex, close to Dublin airport, the expectation is that the Clareman will go close to supplementing his win in the inter counties championship at Cork earlier in the season.

Apart from giving him back a trophy he held for so long, victory here would give him the honour of leading the Ireland team in next month's World Championships in the Algarve. The squad for that assignment will be chosen immediately after.

Sadly, Ferrin will not be on the starting line to defend his tittle but even in the champion's absence, there is no shortage of experienced runners in the field capable of exploiting any mistakes by Power in the course of his 12,000-metre journey.

Among the former titleholders in action will be Peter Matthews (DSD), John Downes(Donore) and Noel Cullen (Clonliffe). To those can be added the names of Dermot Donnelly (Annadale), Noel Berkeley (DSD), David Lombard(Leevale) and David Burke (Mullingar),all of whom will have genuine hopes of making the Ireland team.

Burke will be supported by Cormac Finnerty, Tom McGrath and his brother, John, as Mullingar seek to reclaim the team title. Cullen, Neville Davey and Cian McLoughlin were all in the Clonliffe team which recently finished sixth in the European Championship and rate as favourites to succeed now.

Rosemary Ryan, who ran so well to win the inter counties title, will be hoping to add to her successes in the women's race. Together with former champion Maureen Harrington, they should dominate now, although a case can also be made for Louise Cavanagh.