Joanne Carter and Sean Carlow will represent Australia at the World Figure Skating Championships this week.
 
In a change from previous years, skaters will not have to negotiate a qualifying round before going into the short program.
 
Carlow will skate his men's short program on Wednesday night, Australian Eastern Summer time, and the free program 24 hours later.
 
Reigning World Champion Stephane Lambiel of Switzerland, Grand Prix champion Brian Joubert of France and two Japanese skaters – Daisuke Takahashi and Nobunari Oda – are the leading contenders for the title.
 
Carter, who has a best performance at a World Championships of 11th in 1997, will take to the ice in the short program on Friday night, then the free program early Sunday morning Australian Eastern Summer time.
 
The Japanese will also be prominent in the ladies competition, with 16-year-old former World Junior Champion Mao Asada making her senior world title debut on the back of the highest women's points score this season.
 
Compatriot Miki Ando, Korea's Grand Prix champion Yu-Na Kim of Korea, reigning World Champion Kimmie Meissner of the United States and European Champion Carolina Kostner will also be contenders.