Athletes will take on fast, flat 3km and 10km events in the Lakeside Stadium precinct in the series’ seventh round.

Youngster Nick Fidler has been the form Ballarat competitor of the series.

He is undefeated in four individual under-16 events.

Fidler won the Albert Park 3000m last year and another success will give him a clean sweep and confirm him as the XCR’16 Series champion in his age group.

Ballarat’s men’s open, masters, under-18 and under-20 runners hit the road first in the 10km challenge.

An hour later the women’s open and masters athletes will follow.

Under-14 to under-20 women and under-14 to under-16 men will race over 3km.

Following success at the Sandown relays, the regional team will look to build on its standings. Seven teams are placed in the top five season aggregates - four in the top three.

Not surprisingly with Fidler’s dominance, Ballarat’s has figured particularly strong in the under-16 men’s division. Fidler, Harry Sharp and Matthew Catterson can cement their top position with another win. The under-14 men are also looking strong in second.

Ballarat is also prominent in the country women’s open division with Natasha Typuszak and Courtney Scott equal leaders, and Angela Williams third. Nathan Hartigan, Jack Davies and Nic Van Raaphorst are second, third and fourth in the country men’s open division.