Slovenian fans hold high hopes for Slovenian skiing star Tina Maze, who is in top form this season and leads the overall World Cup standings by a considerable margin.

"I've always wanted to be the favourite racer here in Maribor. I'm not under such pressure because of the huge lead in the overall World Cup, so I'll be more relaxed at these home races," Maze said at a press conference on Thursday.

Organisers said the cold temperatures and sunny skies forecast will make for a perfect competition. What is more, at least 20,000 visitors are expected on account of Maze's excellent performances.

Maze will have a good chance of repeating the 1988 achievement of Mateja Svet, the only Slovenian skier to have ever won both events at the Golden Fox.

She has won two giant slaloms in Maribor, in 2005 and 2009.

This season, Maze is among the top three skiers in all four World Cup events and has won six races and a position among the top three in 15 of 23 races. Today, Maze will compete with number seven.