The former world 400 metre hurdle champion will come to Devonport to help re-launch her career which hopefully leads to the London Olympic Games.

The 29-year-old will have her first race since April when she contests the Zatopek meeting in Melbourne on December 10 before running at Devonport's two-day carnival on December

29-30.

Pittman has developed a close association with Devonport since first running at the carnival in 2002.

She returned in 2005 and 2009 and at her last appearance helped Devonport to be judged as the best carnival in Australia.

Pittman always enjoys running on the soft grass track at Devonport and under the handicap conditions the carnival offers.

Two years ago she contested seven races over the two nights, even asking club officials if she could be a late entry into one of them.

Despite giving away impossible starts Pittman has thrilled the Devonport crowds with a third in the 2002 Devonport Gift and minor placings in the 70m and 800m on her last visit.

Athletics Australia head coach Eric Hollingsworth outlined Pittman's future race program earlier this week.

The Devonport Carnival is considered an easy assignment for her as she will then step up for a 4 x 400 metre relay in Brisbane in early January to try to set a qualifying time

for the Olympic Games.

An Olympic Games gold medal is the only thing missing from Pittman's trophy cabinet.

She has won the 400 metre hurdles world championship twice, firstly in Paris in 2003 and then in Osaka in 2007.

She has four Commonwealth Games gold medals to her credit winning the 400m hurdles and as a member of Australia's 4 x 400m relay in Manchester in 2002 and then repeating

the effort in Melbourne four years later.

But her career hasn't been all plain sailing.

She has been beset with injuries including a cartilage tear and the latest achilles tendon injury that has sidelined her for the majority of the year.

Pittman was also involved in an ``on again-off again'' marriage to British runner Chris Rawlinson as well as a spat with fellow runner Tamsyn Lewis.