Champion pacer Christen Me is likely to make his first start at Addington in more than seven months on Saturday.
Trainer Cran Dalgety faces a nervous wait to see if a c4 to open class mobile over 1950m will get off the ground on Saturday but nominations are looking positive.
The reigning horse of the year has missed the majority of the season with a lingering virus but Monday's impressive trial at Motukarara was further evidence he is close to being back to his brilliant best.
Christen Me made a sensational winning return in the Rangiora Classic on April 24 and is on track for the Group I Len Smith Mile at Menangle on June 26.
"At this stage we are very happy with him, we'll just have to cross our fingers that he gets a start this week," Dalgety said.
The New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club had nine nominations for the race on Monday afternoon but the deadline was extended to 10am on Tuesday.
There was some concern the inclusion of the more than $2 million earner may be enough to scare a couple of others away and the race is unlikely to go ahead with fewer than seven runners.
There is an option the following week, but Dalgety is not so keen on the 3200m of the Winter Cup given Christen Me will be off a sizeable handicap.
Heading to the Queensland Carnival is a possibility if Christen Me can impress in Sydney.
Dexter Dunn settled Christen Me at the rear of the six strong field in Monday's trial but followed up stablemate Lightning Mach in the running line with a lap to run, then sprinted home to win by a length over stablemate another Fifth Edition.
Dunn gave the run his tick of approval.
"He felt really good and he was nice and relaxed," he said.
Christen Me paced the 2200m on the grit at Motukarara in 2:51.8 with a mile rate of 2:05.6 and closing sectionals of 56.8 and 28.8.
Fifth Edition has not been sighted on race day since December 2014 due to suffering the effects of a bone chip but is likely to return before the end of the season.
Mat Kermeen