The event, which doubles as the 2018 Loterias Caixa Athletics Open Championships, is the second Grand Prix leg of the year.

More than 230 leading Para-athletes are due to compete over three days at the Ícaro de Castro Mello Stadium

Reigning world and Paralympic champion Ferreira will seek to build on strong early-season form that has already included a 10.51 second clocking this year in the 100m T47 category.

His team-mate Yohansson Nascimento, the world silver medallist behind Ferreira in London last year, could prove his closest rival once again.

Daniel Martins will also start as a home favourite in the 400m T20 class.

He lines up against four Ecuadorians, including the man who clinched silver behind him at London 2017: Damian Carcelen.

Shot put world champions Alessandro Silva, in the F11 class, and Thiago Santos, at F57, are also in action.

Brazilian Odair Santos will return to competition in the T11 distance events after missing the World Championships last year.

The 36-year-old won 1,500m gold and 5,000m silver at Rio 2016 and will compete over the longer distance this time around.

Mexico’s Paralympic shot put F57 champion Angeles Ortiz Hernandez will also be hoping for a second consecutive Grand Prix win after breaking the world record with a throw of 11.16m in Dubai last month.