Two canoeists returned from the World Marathon Championships in Canada last weekend with one thing firmly on their minds - winning a title at the Jameson Liffey Descent this Saturday.

For Gary Mawer, who had a disappointing championships, the aim was diverted in an unexpected if pleasant way - he won a late call-up to join Ireland's two other Olympic canoeists, Ian Wiley and Eadaoin Ni Challarain, in Sydney.

But Eileen Murphy has every intention of mounting a strong challenge to become the fastest woman to complete the extremely challenging 17.6-mile course from Straffan in Co Kildare to Islandbridge in Dublin.

The 43-year-old teacher won her section of the veterans' championship in Canada, and was second among all the competitors from 30 up. She also has the record in the Liffey Descent, having won in 1990 and 1991.

But the title has since belonged to Michelle Barry, whose record of wins in this event runs into double figures and must rank her among the very best female athletes in this country.

In the men's event, the absence of Mawer may make for an open race overall. With his brother John, who has not been able to compete recently, he won the K2 class last year, completing the race faster than any other boat in one hour 52 minutes 53 seconds. Former winners Ian and Alan Tordoff from England are also not competing.

The wild-water section has also opened up as Michael O'Meara, one of the strongest contenders and the winner last year, is not taking part.

The race, which features a huge range of craft from tough Canadian canoes to much flimsier racing boats, will have an entry of around 1,000, including entries from Britain, New Zealand and South Africa.

The event begins at 12.30 at Straffan and finishers are expected at Islandbridge at around 2.20 p.m.