Cheruiyot's Chicago hope

London winner and defending champion Limo is out with a back injury but his Kenyan compatriot and Boston victor Cheruiyot will face a strong challenge from the man he beat by 67 seconds in Massachusetts, Benjamin Maiyo.

Daniel Njenga is also sure to challenge, having finished on the podium in all four of his appearances in the Illinois race, while fellow East Africans Robert Cheboror, Wilson Onsare and Charles Kibiwott - all of whom have broken 2:07:00 in the past - will pose a threat.

Home favourite Brian Sell, who was fourth in April's Boston event, thinks a quick race is in store.

He told USA Today: "Somebody could easily run 2:06-high and not be in the top five this year.

"The Kenyans will probably go out in 4:45 or so. Chicago's the kind of course they don't die off on.

"There's usually a pack of four or five with a mile to go, and it comes down to a kick."

Last year's runner-up Constantina Tomescu-Dita of Romania plus Ethopia's Berhane Adere and Galina Bogomolova of Russia - fourth and fifth respectively in the London Marathon - lead the women's field.