The Sochi 2014 relay champion has missed all seven events held this term due to a neck injury.

He will make a cautious return to competition at the Italian resort, where two individual events and the first team competition of the season are scheduled.

"It will be good to race again," said Krog, who also won individual normal hill bronze in Sochi.

"I am looking forward to my season start after I had to follow the action on TV so far. 

"I am of course interested to see in what shape exactly I am in, but I have gotten good comparisons in training. 

"For my exact level, I will just have to see. 

"It was impressive to watch my team mates in the first few events and I know what it takes to fight for the top results."

Krog's Norwegian team mate Jarl Magnus Riiber will again be the man to beat in Val di Fiemme, after his astonishing start to the season.

The double world champion and Olympic team silver medallist has won six of the seven competitions so far.

He only missed out in the first race, held in Ramsau in Austria on December 21, when Germany's Vinzenz Geiger pushed him into second place.

His form has seen him amass 680 points in the World Cup rankings, as he defends the overall title he claimed last season.

Compatriot Jørgen Graabak is second on 451, with Geiger third on 402.

With 100 points available for a victory, Riiber could collect nothing from both individual races in Val di Fiemme and still remain at the summit.

The World Cup begins tomorrow with the provisional competition round and qualification.

Two Gundersen races will follow on consecutive days, featuring jumping on the Trampolino dal Ben hill and 10 kilometre cross-country ski races.

The opening team event of the season on Sunday (January 12) will feature a 2x7.5 km sprint race following the jumping.