Felix Loch will be aiming to cut the gap between himself and Roman Repilov at the FIL World Cup leg in Königssee ©Getty Images

Reigning champion Felix Loch of Germany will be hoping to cut the 32 point gap to International Luge Federation (FIL) World Cup leader Roman Repilov of Russia on home ice in Königssee.

The fifth leg of the season begins tomorrow at the artificial sliding track which has hosted the FIL World Championships on five occasions.

Completed in 1968, it was the first permanent, artificially refrigerated bobsleigh, luge and skeleton track in the world.

Loch, a triple Olympic gold medallist and 12-time world champion, currently lies in second in the overall standings on 375 points while Repilov leads on 407.

Austria's Wolfgang Kindl, who finished second behind Loch in the overall standings last season, currently completes the top three with 366 points.

At the previous stage of the World Cup at the Utah Olympic Park in Park City in the United States, Repilov collected a first place and a sprint event second place to cement his lead at the top.

In the women's singles event, the top two competitors will both be battling for vital World Cup points on home ice in what has been an intriguing tussle so far.

Tatjana Hüfner, the Vancouver 2010 Olympic gold medallist, is currently in pole position in the overall standings as she has 430 points.

Her compatriot and rival Natalie Geisenberger, who won the overall World Cup crown last season, is second, 18 points behind, while Erin Hamlin of the US sits in third on 374.

Tatjana Hüfner will renew her rivalry with Natalie Geisenberger in the women's event ©Getty Images
Tatjana Hüfner will renew her rivalry with Natalie Geisenberger in the women's event ©Getty Images

Elsewhere, German duo Toni Eggert and Sascha Benecken will look to extend their excellent form in the doubles event.

The pair had dominated the series until they were beaten by Olympic champions and compatriots Tobias Wendl and Tobias Arlt on day one in Park City.

However, they managed to beat their team-mates, who are the current World Cup champions, on the second day of action in the sprint event to conclude the World Cup event in style.

The result gave Eggert and Benecken their fifth win from six World Cup events, and as a result they remain as the overall leaders of the World Cup standings with 570 points, with Wendl and Arlt second on 467.

The German domination of the top three on the leaderboard is completed by Robin Geueke and David Gamm who have 375.

Action in Königssee begins with the women's and doubles races tomorrow, before the men's and team relay events take centre stage on Friday (January 6).