The Georgian won the event in his capital in its first year in 2014, but afterwards complained about his vision.

He was found to be partially sighted and has since moved to the Paralympic programme, and will compete at Rio 2016 in September.

Gogotchuri earned his place in Brazil by winning the International Blind Sport Association (IBSA) World Games last year, and the 29-year-old is still ranked 71st in the fully-sighted IJF standings in the under 90kg class.

The Georgian has opted to compete against fully sighted opponents in order to be best prepared for his Paralympic challenge.

Another home hope in Tbilisi will be Beka Gviniashivili who is eyeing a first Grand Prix title at under 100kg level.

The 20-year-old World Judo Masters winner also won two Pan American Open titles in March, in Lima and Buenos Aires.

He will be hoping that his home crowd will help carry him over the line in Tbilisi.

In the women's under 78kg category, one judoka to watch will be Brazil's Mayra Aguiar.

The London 2012 bronze medallist is carrying expectations from a nation on her shoulders as she will be a big hope for gold in front of her home crowd at Rio 2016.

The 24-year-old 2014 world champion beat American rival Kayla Harrison last time out in the Paris Grand Slam final.

Abu Dhabi Grand Slam winner Marhinde Verkerk of The Netherlands, Britain's Paris bronze medallist Natalie Powell and Hungary's Havana Grand Prix winner Joo Abigel will be among her competition in Georgia, along with North Korea's former world champion Sol Kyong.

Brazil will field another eight judokas across the weight categories as their preparations for Rio continue.

Kazakhstan, who hosted last year's World Championships in Astana, will send 21 judokas to the event.

The action will take place at the New Sports Palace from tomorrow until Sunday (March 27).