The eight-kilometre race is a gruelling event which will see competitors run up Putauaki - 852m above sea level - before racing back down.
Barry Prosser still holds the record (45.54 minutes) set in 1988 when 20 athletes made the Sub-60 Hall of Fame in what was an astonishing year.
Unfortunately, Helen Rountree will not be defending her title as queen of the mountain this year, due to other sporting obligations.
This will throw the queen title wide open with plenty of other top female athletes entered.
Kim Beckinsale is the representing Pomona Queen, a sister race in Australia, and was last in Kawerau in 2003. She was crowned Kawerau Queen in 2003 and will be looking to add to that title again this weekend.
No Pomona King competitor will be present but Bryce Hegarty, a Pomona junior, will be keeping Aussie hopes alive.
Racing will begin at 12pm for the feature race. A school relay race will be held at 9.30am, followed by the Norske Skog Tasman Prince and Princess Race at 11am.
• Late entries can be made before the race at Firmin Field, at the Mighty River Power marquee. Online entries are also open.
