Leading the way for Morocco is world silver medallist Achraf Ouchen, who will be looking to defend his men’s kumite over 84 kilograms title at the multi-purpose Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium.

Promising karateka Tareg Hamedi of Saudi Arabia and 2016 overall winner Morgan Moss of South Africa are expected to be among Ouchen’s main challengers in the category.

Aya Nassiri was another of Morocco’s gold medallist in Rabat last year and will be aiming to retain her women’s kata crown.

She is likely to face competition from reigning overall champion Terryana D’Onofrio of Italy.

Fatima Zahrae Aghardis and Omaima El Absi will try to reach the top of the podium again for Morocco in the respective women’s kumite over 68kg and women’s kumite under 55kg categories, as will the men’s kata team.

More than 100 Moroccan karatekas are registered to participate in Rabat, where three days of action is due to begin tomorrow.

This forms the largest national delegation at the event with Algeria and Turkey the closest with nearly 40 competitors each.

Among the other karatekas set to compete are world silver medallists Valeria Kumizaki of Brazil and Egypt’s Omar Abdel Rahman.

A number of world bronze medallists are also due to battle for honours, including Egypt’s Radwa Sayed, Venezuela’s Andres Madera, France’s Kenji Grillon and Azerbaijan’s Firdovsi Farzaliyev and Aykhan Mamayev.

The Karate1-Premier League is considered the most important event of its kind in the sport.

This year's edition comprises five stops with German cities Halle and Leipzig scheduled to host the last from September 8 to 10.