"I do feel pressure on my leg as it includes Hamurana Rd section and then a complete change up a very steep incline but I know the route well and have been training hard."
The veteran runner will be joined by local runners Phil Gulbransen, Trevor Ogilvie, Ray Hewlett, Ray Lichtward and Colin Earwaker in the team.
After winning the open masters men 60 plus each year since the grade's inception in 2012 the Athletic Nelson side is not attending - leaving Lake City Athletic Club to battle it out against Scottish, Tauranga Ramblers, Wellington Harrier Athletic Club and Auckland University.
"We have a good chance and it's great because everybody in the team is highly competitive and we have some very experienced runners," Horn said.
"The competition could be won by anyone on the day, so each of us just needs to stay focused and give it our best."
This will be the first time the NZ National Road Relay Championships have been held in Rotorua - and Horn said this may give his local team an "edge".
"All of the guys know the course like the back of their hand," he said.
"We can't be complacent about that but I'm hoping it will give us some advantage over other runners.
"There will be certain parts of the race when we'll know to push and every second could count on the day.
The course director Chris Corney, from Lake City Athletic Club, said he was confident the Rotorua community would get behind all the course runners on the day.
"It would be great if there is lots of local support out around the track because it really helps all the runners," he said.
"It's fantatsic that Rotorua gets to host this event because there are some real class acts on display and there will be plenty of competitive battles going on around the course."
Horn has run some 30 marathons over his long distance career, including "eight or nine" at Rotorua.
Despite previous health scares, and only recently returning after a four-year gap out from running due to "niggling" injuries, Horn hopes tomorrow's event will motivate him to continue training and even running another marathon.
"It has been difficult in the past but having a heart attack doesn't mean you have to stop,'' he said.
"To be honest running helped me get over what happened. Obviously I am a lot slower than what I was but it still gives me a great sense of achievement.
"I feel that there is certainly one more marathon in me - it would be great to end on the one in Rotorua.
"Running is my passion and I hope my story can inspire others."
A total of 111 teams, including four walking teams, comprising 734 competitors have entered.
2016 New Zealand Road Relay Championships, Saturday 1st October, Rotorua:
Long Course
(7 legs over a total of 62.5km)
8am: Senior Men C grade, Masters Women, Open Masters (50+)
8.45am: Senior Women, Masters Men
9.45am: Senior Men A & B grades
Start: Corner of Pukehangi Road and Devon Street West
Finish: Energy Events Centre
Short Course
(6 legs over a total distance of 45.3km)
7.30am: All Walk teams
8.45am: Junior Men, Junior Women, Open Masters (60+), Social/ Corporate
Start: Road under State Highway 5 towards the Agrodome
Finish: Energy Events Centre
For more information about the 2016 New Zealand Road Relay Championships please visit: http://lakecity.co.nz/
