special to Irish Runner.com by Eoghan Young-Murphy

Sonia O'Sullivan will return to the venue in which she recorded one of her best ever performances in a road race when she tackles nemesis Derartu Tulu in the Great South 10-mile run in Portsmouth.

It was at this same event three years ago that the Cobh legend suggested she possessed the ability to have a glittering marathon career when, in the aftermath of her double silver medal-winning exploits in the European Championships, she set a then world best time of 51 minutes en route to victory.

And despite an unspectacular track season the following year, during which propped up the field in the World Championship 5,000m final in Paris, she again starred in this event. Her winning time of 52:39 may not have been as stunning as the previous year, but it provided a satisfying denouement to a forgettable year and instilled her with confidence as she began her Olympic preparation.

Such has been her almost subterranean existence in the preamble to this year's event that she has barely featured in the previews. A foot injury brought her track season to a premature conclusion, while the ailment also curtailed her preparations for running the New York marathon next month.

So, O'Sullivan embarks on the race not really knowing what to expect. In recent months, she has been changing her mind regarding her plans with such amazing rapidity that it's hard to keep up.

She initially called time on her season but the made an eleventh hour decision to compete in the Great North Run half-marathon in South Shields. Her chances of excelling seemed minimal; she herself claimed to be competing solely for charity. Then she posted a creditable 11th in 1 hour 14:41 minutes.

Sunday's race could be billed as a tussle between two former greats of distance running: the end-game between legends. Double Olympic 10,000m champion Tulu has also recently been a ghost of her former self: she failed to medal at the World Championships marathon, though she did bounce back to win the Great North Run in 1 hour 07:03 minutes.

She also has found memories of this event; she won the race in 51:39 in 1996. Over 16,500 entries have been received for what is Britain's largest 10-mile race.

Sonia's partner, Nic Bideau, was last night unclear of the Corkwoman's future plans - but confirmed she will be an absentee from the European Cross-Country Championships in Holland in December.

He said: "We are not sure when we will return to Australia - we haven't finalised things yet. But it will probably be in the next few weeks. She won't be running in the European Cross, though."