The 21-year-old American currently lies fourth in the overall rankings but will have the opportunity to move up a place and achieve a career-high position.

Her hopes will depend upon Italy’s Elisa Di Francesca failing to defend her Shanghai title, having beaten Russia’s Inna Deriglazova in last year’s final.

Olympic champion Di Francesca is likely to be threatened again by Deriglazova, with the world number one having already claimed medals at five World Cup events this season.

World number two Arianna Errigo of Italy will also be hopeful of challenging for a podium finish as the London 2012 silver medallist steps up her preparations for Rio 2016.

With the Grand Prix drawing the season to a close, it will be the penultimate chance for fencers to improve their seeding ahead of this year's Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. 

African and Asian fencers will not be able to improve their ranking following the competition, however, as their zonal Championships have already taken place.

The US will expect to dominate the men’s competition with Alexander Massialas, Gerek Meinhardt and Race Imboden all lying in the top four positions in the world rankings.

Japan’s Yuki Ota, the current world number two, will be expected to provide the main challenge to the trio in Shanghai.

The competition will act as the last chance for fencers to stake their claim to their respective National Federations ahead of deadline of June 6 to name the their line-ups for the Olympic team competition.

Italy, United States, France, Russia, China, Britain, Egypt and Brazil are all set to contest the team foil event at the Games.