Swimming: Stand-off between Thorpe and Phelps to continue

The Mexican stand-off between Ian Thorpe and American swim sensation Michael Phelps is set to extend into the World Cup meeting in Melbourne this month.

Thorpe and Phelps are again likely to avoid each other in the pool as they battle for a psychological advantage ahead of the Olympics in Athens next year.

Entries for the World Cup are not finalised, but it's likely Thorpe will contest the 50m and 100m freestyle and the 50m butterfly while Phelps will enter the 200m and 400m individual medleys, the 200m freestyle and 100m and 200m butterfly.