The three-day event is the third of six in the series and offers prize money of $180,000 (£145,000/€162,000) per individual competition.

Two-time and reigning world champion Javier Fernandez of Spain headlines the men’s event as he starts his season in Russia’s capital.

Competition for the European champion is likely to come from ISU Grand Prix Final bronze medallist Shoma Uno of Japan.

Uno won the Progressive Skate America last month and is aiming to secure his spot at the season finale in French city Marseille in December.

Other contenders include home favourite Mikhail Kolyada, who finished fourth at the 2016 World Championships, as well as the United States’ Max Aaron, Latvia’s Deniss Vasiljevs, Canada’s Elladj Balde and 2016 European silver medallist Alexei Bychenko of Israel.

In the women’s event, the trio of 2016 world bronze medallist Anna Pogorilaya, 2016 European silver medallist Elena Radionova and 2014 European champion Julia Lipnitskaya are aiming to repeat a Russian sweep.

Challengers include China’s Zijun Li, the US’s Courtney Hicks and Japan’s Kanako Murakami.

In the pairs event, world bronze medallists Aliona Savchenko and Bruno Massot of Germany are entering their first Grand Prix as a team.

Skate America champions Julianne Seguin and Charlie Bilodeau of Canada will also be vying for top honours and a place in the final.

Other contenders hoping for a podium finish include Russia’s Kristina Astakhova and Alexei Rogonov, compatriots Natalia Zabiiako and Alexander Enbert, and Italy’s Valentina Marchei and Ondrej Hotarek.

Competition for the medals is expected to be fierce in the ice dance event with world bronze medallists Madison Chock and Evan Bates of the US in the mix along with 2015 world bronze medallists Kaitlyn Weaver and Andrew Poje of Canada and 2016 European bronze medallists Ekaterina Bobrova and Dmitri Soloviev of Russia. 

The Americans arrive on the back of a silver medal-winning performance at Skate Canada International, while the Russians won a bronze at Skate America and the Canadians are entering their first Grand Prix event of the season.

Other competitors include Italy’s Charlene Guignard and Marco Fabbri, Russia’s Tiffany Zahorski and Jonathan Guerreiro, and Denmark’s Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Nikolaj Sorensen.

A total of 60 skaters/couples from 19 ISU members are due to compete at the Rostelecom Cup.

In July, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) told Winter International Federations to "freeze preparations" for major events in Russia after the publication of the McLaren Report, which allegedly uncovered a state-sponsored doping system, present at a number of major international competitions, including the 2014 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games in Sochi.

They backtracked on this, however, claiming the recommendation only applied to future bid processes and not current candidacies from Russia or competitions which they had already been awarded.