Prevc, second in the overall World Cup standings last season, leapt 139 metres to earn a total of 143.8 points.

His score saw him finish ahead of defending Four Hills champion Stefan Kraft of Austria, who managed 135.5m for a score of 134.6 points.

Norway’s Johann André Forfang did enough for third with a jump of 133m, worth 132.2 points.

As a result of opting to not compete in the qualification round, Germany’s Severin Freund will have to take on Prevc in the first knockout round in the second Four Hills competition.

The two competitors are the favourites for the overall crown but one will exit the competition at the round of 64 stage as the two will go head tomorrow.

Their meeting marks another instalment of a thrilling rivalry between Prevc and Freund, who claimed the Ski Jumping World Cup title last season by virtue of earning more victories over the course of the season after they had ended on an equal points total.

Norway were able to produce a strong display in the qualification phase as Kenneth Gangnes, who recently earned his maiden FIS Ski Jumping World Cup success, finished just outside of the top three as he came fourth with an effort of 131m.

Gangnes’ teammate Richard Freitag was fifth after he recorded a jump of 132.5m, and Anders Fannemel, the current ski jumping world record holder, was tied for seventh along with Roman Koudelka of the Czech Republic on 124.8 points.

Double Olympic champion Kamil Stoch, who clinched two titles at the Winter Olympic Games in Sochi in 2014, endured a disappointing outing as he could only muster 33rd.

The winner of the second Four Hills event will be crowned during an action packed day of competition due to take place tomorrow.