Norway's Therese Johaug has been dominant in the women's distance races in the FIS Cross-Country World Cup this season and looks to add another couple of wins in Östersund this weekend ©Getty Images

Russia's Alexander Bolshunov and Norway's Therese Johaug will look to keep their convincing leads in the International Ski Federation (FIS) Cross-Country World Cup at the next leg due to start in Östersund in Sweden tomorrow. 

Both won last time out in Falun, each crossing the line first in the mass start.

Bolshunov also finished third in the sprint event. 

The men will compete over the 15 kilometres free and the pursuit over the same distance with the women doing the same events, but over 10km in the two-day event. 

The Russian has won six World Cup events so far this season - with six bronze medals too in 21 events - while Johaug, a convicted drugs cheat, has won an incredible 11 events and silver medal also to her name.

Both skiers are more than 300 points ahead of second in the distance rankings and will benefit from no sprint events this weekend.

Russia's Alexander Bolshunov has held off a strong Norwegian contingent this season ©Getty Images
Russia's Alexander Bolshunov has held off a strong Norwegian contingent this season ©Getty Images

Bolshunov sits in seventh in the rankings, while Johaug is outside the top 10. 

Russia and Norway have been dominant in the men's competition with the Nordic nation's Sjur Røthe sitting second behind the Russian in the distance races and third in the overall rankings behind sprint specialist Johannes Høsflot Klæbo.

Finland's Iivo Niskanen will also aim to close the gap on Klæbo in the overall standings considering he is the only skier outside the two nations to win a distance event this year.

In the women's side, another Norwegian looks like the best athlete to upset Johaug in the form of Heidi Weng, who is yet to win a distance race this year, but has consistently made the podium.

Norway have yet to lose a distance event this year with only Astrid Jacobsen and Ingvild Flugstad Østberg finishing ahead of Johaug in Italy in the first two races of 2020.