World Cup champion Janine Flock is set to be in action on home ice ©Getty Images

The International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation (IBSF) World Cup season begins begins in Innsbruck tomorrow, with skeleton first on the agenda.

The host nation will be represented by two reigning IBSF World Cup champions, including Janine Flock in the women's skeleton.

Flock, who finished on the podium at all eight World Cup races last season, heads a field which also includes the world champion and two Pyeongchang 2018 medallists.

Germany's Tina Hermann is the reigning world champion, and is joined by Pyeongchang 2018 runner-up Jacqueline Lölling in the three-strong German team.

Laura Deas, the Pyeongchang 2018 bronze medallist, leads the British charge, and European champion Elena Nikitina of Russia is another athlete to look out for.

Women's monobob is on the Olympic programme for the first time at Beijing 2022 ©Getty Images
Women's monobob is on the Olympic programme for the first time at Beijing 2022 ©Getty Images

The men's field boasts World Cup champion Martins Dukurs of Latvia, world champion Christopher Grotheer from Germany and South Korea's Yun Sung-bin, the reigning Olympic champion.

A Women’s Monobob World Series leg is also scheduled in Innsbruck, on Saturday (November 20), with a record 28 athletes from 18 countries due to compete.

Valuable qualification points for the Winter Olympics will be on offer at the IBSF World Cup.

January 16 is the Beijing 2022 cut-off, and the rankings at that stage will determine Olympic berths.