“This year’s Launceston 10 will probably be one of the strongest 10km road fields assembled on Australian soil for a number of years,” Adams said as he confirmed his place in the new-look Tasmanian Running Festival.

“There are a number of guys that are coming off some great performances overseas, so it’s definitely going to be tough to win.”

This year’s field includes Ben St Lawrence, twice an Olympic 10,000m finalist, Australian 10,000m record holder and Launceston 10 winner in 2013.

Adams was the best performed Australian in the Rio Olympic marathon, finishing 31st in a time of 2:16.12, and this year’s Launceston 10 is an important stepping stone in the 30-year-old Victorian’s attempts to qualify for next year’s Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.

On the women’s side, dual Olympian Eloise Wellings, who finished 10th in the 10,000m women’s final at last year’s Olympics (the best finish ever by an Australian), returns to Launceston with great memories, after taking out the women’s title in 2015.

Joining Wellings on the start line will be Australian half-marathon champion Cassie Fien, who had a tremendous finish to 2016, placing 11th in the New York Marathon.