The 31-year-old Londoner faces stiff opposition from defending champion Josh Cassidy of Canada and the dangerous Swiss duo of Heinz Frei and Marcel Hug but victory from the home-town favourite would give Weir a fifth London Marathon victory would make him the most successful men's wheelchair racer history of the competition.

The double Beijing 2008 Paralympic Champion is full of confidence having claimed victory in the New York Marathon last November and is hoping gain revenge on Cassidy after Weir led last year's London Marathon by a distance before two punctures cost him the 2010 crown.

"Last year was a big disappointment for me when I was leading by some way and then got two punctures but I know I'm in great form at the moment," Weir told insideworldparasport.

"Winning in New York last year was a great boost for me and obviously I performed well at the World Championships by winning three golds.

"But this is a strong field with a number of potential winners so I will have to be at my best.

"Obviously I'm aware that Sunday will be 500 days to go to the London 2012 Paralympics but I'm not really thinking about that at all as it is just one race at a time for me.

"It would be nice to win on that big milestone but I just want to win because it is a huge race for me."

Britain's top woman racer Shelly Woods is also keen to make up for last year when she finished adrift of the leaders, another victim of punctures.

The 24-year-old from Blackpool faces a tough task to secure victory though with the world champion and London Marathon course record holder Sandra Graf of Switzerland in the field.

The 2009 champion and world bronze medallist Amanda McGrory and the New York Marathon 2010 winner Tatyana McFadden provide a big threat from America while Diane Roy of Canada is also likely to be in the mix having won the title in 2009.

"It should be another great race," said Woods, who won the race in 2007.

"There are a lot of fast racers out there at the moment.

"I just have to hang on to the leaders and hope I have enough power if it comes down to a sprint finish."

Virgin London Marathon race director David Bedford added: "I am delighted to welcome back Britain's two finest wheelchair racers for the 2011 Virgin London Marathon.

"They will find it as tough as ever this year against two very strong fields including both men's and women's world record holders and a number of world medallists.

"I am sure we are set for another pair of highly competitive races."

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