Fourcade languished down in 12th on the World Cup standings in 2018-19 and failed to finish in the top three in any overall event for the first time since 2009.

The 31-year-old, a seven-time overall World Cup champion, will bid to challenge Norwegian Johannes Thingnes Bø during the upcoming campaign.

Bø dominated the overall event last season, winning 16 races on his way to securing the crystal globe in style.

The seven-time world champion and Olympic 20 kilometres individual gold medallist also topped the leaderboard in the sprint, pursuit and mass start events, while Norway won the relay and nations cup titles.

Russian Alexander Loginov, second to Bø last season, is likely to be among the other contenders for the overall crown.

In the women's event, Italy are expected to enjoy another successful campaign, as Dorothea Wierer and Lisa Vittozzi go in pursuit of a second straight one-two finish.

Two prominent biathletes - three-time Olympic gold medallist Anastasiya Kuzmina and Germany's Laura Dahlmeier - are not competing this season.

The event in Östersund begins tomorrow and concludes on Sunday (December 1).