The Russian couple, who served a three-month suspension for the doping infraction they attributed to bronchitis medication, is one of six world champions set to compete at the second stop of the six-event ISU Grand Prix series.

Reigning three-time world champions Michelle Kwan and Alexei Yagudin, the world's top-ranked ice dancers Marina Annissina and Gwendal Peizerat, 2000 pair champions Maria Petrova and Alexei Tikhonov, and 1996 men's world champ Todd Eldredge, will also vie for Skate Canada gold.

Kwan will skate for her second Grand Prix gold in as many weeks after claiming the top prize last week at Skate America in Colorado Springs.

The American will be challenged by Russia's Irina Slutskaya, who outskated Kwan to win last year's Grand Prix Final.

Russia's Yagudin and American veteran Eldredge will be seeking redemption following error-plagued performances at Skate America. Both came up quadless in the final free skate to finish two-three behind American Timothy Goebel, who will not compete here.

Instead, the two men will be looking over their shoulders for the China's Li Chengjiang, ranked fifth in the world and a superb technician in the quadruple jump department. Japan's Takeshi Honda could also figure into the men's medal mix.

Eldredge comes in still suffering the effects of a nasty collision on Skate America practice ice in which his back was badly bruised. Coach Richard Callaghan believes the injury will not impede Eldredge's performance this week.

Like Kwan, Canadian pair skaters Jamie Sale and David Pelletier will be looking to make it two-in-a-row after their Skate America victory.

The charming duo, ranked fourth in the world, turned heads last season with their win over Berezhnaya and Sikharulidze at 1999 Skate America. The Russian couple are the defending Skate Canada champions, as are Kwan and Yagudin.

Tamara Moskvina, coach of Berezhnaya and Sikharulidze, said she hopes her skaters' performances will help shift media focus away from last season's drug violation and their quarrels.

"What drugs are they taking now? Are they still in love? That's what the media asks," Moskvina said.

"I'm not a fortune teller, I cannot say how they will skate, what others will do, what the judges will do, but they have worked hard," she said.