Shiffrin of the United States cut her 2019-2020 season short after the passing of her father.

In doing so, the 25-year-old lost the chance to win last season's overall crystal globe, which went to Italy's Federica Brignone, and Shiffrin was also second in the end-of-season slalom standings, behind the Slovakia's Petra Vlhová.

Despite attempting a comeback after a five-week break, Shiffrin did not get the chance to compete after the rest of the season was cancelled due to the worsening COVID-19 situation in March.

Before last season, Shiffrin had won three overall World Cup titles in a row.

Having won 66 World Cup races, Shriffin is second only to Lindsay Vonn in terms of overall women's wins.

Fellow American Vonn won 82 races, while Swede Ingemar Stenmark won 86 - a mark that would appear within Shiffrin's reach.

Shiffrin is currently in Lapland, where she has won the women's slalom event four times before and will look to add a fifth tomorrow.

There are two slalom contests being held on back-to-back days in Finland, and Shiffrin will start her World cup campiagn in her preferred discipline after missing the season-opening race in Sölden in Austria last month due to a back injury.

"This spring, summer, fall, this period since I last raced has been the busiest, most stressful time of my life," Shiffrin said to the Associated Press.

"I feel like racing is actually going to be like going on a vacation.

"Right now, I am just grateful to be here."

Italians Marta Bassino and reigning World Cup champion Brignone finished first and second in the giant slalom in Austria in the absence of Shiffrin, while Vlhová took bronze - all three will be likely among the podium contenders in Levi.

Meanwhile, the entire Swedish team have been placed in quarantine due to a positive COVID-19 test, putting their participation in doubt.

Coach Christian Thoma tested positive when he arrived in Levi, leading Finnish authorities to put the team in isolation.

This includes another of the favourites for the podium, Anna Swenn-Larsson, who won slalom silver at the 2019 FIS Alpine World Ski Championships.

"The whole Swedish team and the rest of our staff are in quarantine," national team manager Tommy Eliasson said, per SVT.

"It was the Finnish authorities who took this decision.

"They acted on the basis of the precautionary principles and this decision applies until further notice.

"We are currently in contact with the Finnish health authorities to try to find a solution to bring home our staff and our skiers."