Alistair Cragg faces a tough 3,000 metres clash against Australia's Craig Mottram at the Reebok Boston indoor games on 27 January.
The Irishman has recovered from an injury which prevented him competing at last month's European Cross-Country Championships and will be bidding to win a title he claimed two years ago.
On that occasion he produced a marvellous performance to beat Ethiopia's Kenenisa Bekele, the world 5,000m and 10,000m record holder.
Cragg, based in the USA, will meet an equally-determined Mottram, who is returning to action after missing last weekend's Event Scotland Edinburgh International Cross-Country event with a calf strain.
America's Jorge Torres, last summer's national 10,000m champion, will lead the domestic challenge at the New England venue.
