Kerr jumped 2.31m to beat Barshim into second place on the second Diamond League stop of 2024 in China. Now he is facing the Qatari legend in his own backyard.

The men's high jump is not among the disciplines being contested at Friday's Diamond League meet in Doha, but Barshim has organised the What Gravity Challenge to take place the day before in the iconic Katara Amphitheatre with some of the best jumpers in the world taking part.

Barshim and Gianmarco Tamberi famously shared Olympic gold at Tokyo 2020. The Italian, who won the world title last year in Budapest, was due to compete but missed the press conference on the eve of the event. Australia's Brendon Starc and Sanghyeok Woo of South Korea are other notable absentees from the original line-up.

JuVaughn Harrison of the United States is in Doha, along with Ukraine's 2013 world champion Bohdan Bondarenko and 39-year-old Bahamian veteran Donald Thomas who won the world title back in 2007.

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Kerr, who set a world lead of 2.36m to take the world indoor title in Glasgow, told Athletics New Zealand, "It is an amazing event to be a part of and outside of a major championship you are not likely to see a more stacked field. It is credit to Barshim and his legacy that he has managed to put together such a quality event, which heralds a new era for our sport.

"Taking what is quite a traditional concept and putting it in a unique setting is a fantastic way to showcase high jump and our unique skillset. Hopefully the event will be well received by the public and the spectators watching. I’m super privileged to be here, but also fired up to put in a massive performance."