Stable companions Faugheen and Nichols Canyon will lock horns for the second time this season after both horses were declared for Sunday's BHP Insurances Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown.
Last year's Champion Hurdle winner Faugheen looked untouchable after going unbeaten in his first 10 starts, but suffered a shock defeat at the hands of Nichols Canyon in the Morgiana Hurdle at Punchestown in November.
The Willie Mullins-trained eight-year-old has since bounced back to successfully defend his Christmas Hurdle crown at Kempton on St Stephen's Day and is long odds-on to gain revenge on his stablemate this weekend in the hands of Ruby Walsh.
Nichols Canyon claimed his sixth Grade One victory in the Ryanair Hurdle at Leopardstown's Christmas meeting and Paul Townend takes over in the saddle for a race won for the past five years by former Mullins great Hurricane Fly.
The champion trainer has a third string to his bow in the form of Arctic Fire.
He was runner-up to Hurricane Fly in last season's renewal and went on to chase home Faugheen at both Cheltenham and Punchestown in the spring.
The seven-year-old, who will be partnered by Danny Mullins, finally clinched a deserved top-level triumph in November's Hatton's Grace Hurdle at Fairyhouse, but returns to Leopardstown with something to prove after a disappointing showing on his first start over three miles over the Festive period.
A five-strong field is completed by Pat Shanahan's King Of The Picts and Plinth from Aidan O'Brien's yard, both of whom have a mountain to climb on official ratings.
