The Commonwealth Games champion will be looking to defend his cross-country title on home soil as well as rack up International Cycling Union (UCI) ranking points.

"This is an important race for sure," Cooper told Yahoo.

"For me this year I have two peaks, at the Commonwealth Games if I am selected and then the World Championships later in the year.

"The Oceanias carry some important points and on top of that I would like to defend my title."

His closest challenge could come from Australia's Dan McConnell, who won bronze at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

Cooper beat McConnell at the recent Australian National Series race in Nerang.

Sam Blenkinsop, who will compete in this weekend's downhill event, will be another New Zealander hoping for a medal this weekend.

The 29-year-old is widely regarded as one of New Zealand's best-ever mountain bikers, having finished in the top 10 at World Championships seven times, including a bronze medal at Champery, France, in 2011. 

This makes him the only Kiwi male downhill rider to win a World Championship medal.

Blenkinsop, however, is still yet to win an Oceania crown - something he plays down.

"They always fall at the start of my year and I am really just building up, so it is more like a training race,'' Blenkinsop told Otago Daily Times.

"Don't get me wrong. 

"I want to win every time I get on my bike and that will be the case at the weekend."

His closest competition could come from compatriot Rupert Chapman, who finished in the top 10 at last year's World Championships.

The Championships will begin tomorrow with the cross-country competition before the downhill racing event on Sunday (February 11).