Austrian duo lead Paerson

Trailing Schild by 70 points in the overall World Cup standings, Hosp clocked 53.49 seconds down the Silvano Beltrametti course, although Schild, already the overwhelming winner of the slalom title, was just 0.12 seconds behind.

Paerson was third quickest, 0.23 seconds slower, after making up time on the lower section.

American Julia Mancuso, the only other skier still in with a chance of snatching the overall title, could manage only 19th place.

Only the top 15 finishers score points at the finals so Mancuso has to improve in the second leg, which starts at 1030 GMT, if she is to cling on to any hope of the overall trophy.

Should Hosp keep first place and collect 100 points, she would take the overall battle with Schild into Sunday's final giant slalom, her speciality event.

"I had nothing to lose so I attacked," said Hosp, the Olympic silver medallist in slalom last year. "It's exciting to be leading after the first leg because I haven't done that for a while."

Schild, who has also taken the super-combined title, is looking to equal Croatian Janica Kostelic's season record of eight World Cup victories in slalom.

"I'm happy, I just wanted a clean run but I will attack more in the second leg," the Austrian told reporters.