Petra Vlhová will be among the favourites in the women's event ©Getty Images

Slovakia's Petra Vlhová will hope to maintain her strong start to the International Ski Federation (FIS) Alpine Ski World Cup season in the first parallel giant slalom race tomorrow in Lech-Zürs.

Vlhová heads to the Austrian venue fresh from winning back-to-back slalom races in the Finnish resort Levi.

The victories placed her at the top of the early World Cup standings.

Vlhová heads the women’s field for the event, but could face competition from Italy’s Federica Brignone, who won overall and giant slalom crystal globes last season.

The United States’ Mikaela Shiffrin has opted out of the competition as the three-time overall World Cup winner continues her comeback.

Competition in Lech-Zürs had been postponed by almost two weeks because of a lack of snow in the resort.

The event was originally planned for November 13 and 14.

Following the women’s competition tomorrow, the men’s event will take place on Friday (November 27).

The competitions are poised to end the resort’s 26-year wait to stage an FIS Alpine Ski World Cup race.