The 22-year-old Klæbo, the triple Olympic champion, currently leads the men’s standings on 1,134 points having won eight times this season, while Østberg sits atop the women’s standings having gained 10 podiums this season.

She has 1,237 points.

The latest stage will begin with both a men’s and women’s sprint tomorrow before classic races take are scheduled to place on Sunday (February 17).

As he has been for most of the season, Klæbo is in winning form at the moment having triumphed in the individual sprint and the classic team sprint at the last event Lahti in Finland.

He also won the classic race in Val di Fiemme last month, meaning if he wins tomorrow it will be his fourth successive victory.

Among his closest rivals tomorrow is likely to be Italy’s Federico Pellegrino, second in the sprint standings and who will be racing on home snow.

In contrast to Klæbo on the men’s side, Østberg has not won since January 27 in Ulricehamn as part of Norway’s 4x5 kilometre relay team.

In the last sprint in Lahti she only finished 18th as another Norwegian, Maiken Caspersen Falla, claimed the win.

Østberg's overall form this season means she will remain one to watch in Cogne however.