The third stage of the ISU Short Track World Cup is set to take place in Almaty this weekend ©Getty Images

The third International Skating Union (ISU) Short Track Speed Skating World Cup event of the season is due to be held in the Kazakh city of Almaty this weekend. 

The competition in Almaty follows the season opener in Calgary and last month's event in Salt Lake City.  

The Halyk Arena, built recently for the 2017 Winter Universiade, will host the action from December 7 to 9. 

Featuring in the competition will be the 500 metres, 1000m and 1500m for both genders, as well as a a 3,000m women's relay, 5,000m men’s relay and a 2000m mixed gender relay.

Choi Min Jeong of South Korea and Suzanne Schulting of The Netherlands will be the main competitors in the women's events, having impressed so far this season.

Hungarian brothers Shaolin Sandor Liu and Shaoang Liu are expected to compete for podium places at the ISU Short Track World Cup in Almaty ©ISU
Hungarian brothers Shaolin Sandor Liu and Shaoang Liu are expected to compete for podium places at the ISU Short Track World Cup in Almaty ©ISU

Hungarian skaters have dominated in the men's events this season, with Shaolin Sandor Liu topping the rankings at the moment.

His brother, Shaoang Liu, is currently ranked fourth and will also be in contention, as will South Korea's Hwang Dae Heon.

The home crowd will have Abzal Azhgaliyev and Denis Nikisha in the men's competition to cheer on, while Anastassiya Krestova will feature in the women's event. 

Tomorrow will see the heats for the 500m and 1,000m races, alongside the quarter-finals for the 1500m and the 3000m, 5000m and 2000m relays.

The event in Almaty, which lost out in a two-city vote for the right to host the 2022 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games, concludes on Sunday (December 9).

Dresden and Turin will be the next destinations for the World Cup after Almaty, with the ISU World Short Track Speed Skating Championships in Sofia, Bulgaria concluding the season in March 2019.