Rising American superstar Xavier Carter and former 100m world record holder Asafa Powell will put a world-class gloss on the sprints in the upcoming grand prix meets in Sydney and Melbourne.

Carter, known as the X-Man for his crossed-arms victory salute, burst to prominence when he clocked 19.63 seconds in the 200m in Lausanne in 2006. At the time it was the second quickest half-lap race ever run behind Michael Johnson's 19.32, although Usain Bolt lowered the world record to 19.30 at the Beijing Olympics.

Carter will contest the 400m at the Sydney Track Classic on February 28 and the 200m at the World Athletics Tour meet in Melbourne five days later. The 23-year-old is back to full fitness after battling knee injuries in 2007 and 2008.

"After being injured this past summer I wanted to get back on track as fast as possible," said Carter.

"I have heard so many great things about the meets in Australia that I thought that there was no better place to start my outdoor season."

Powell will continue his love affair with Australia, having previously competed down under in 2006 and 2008. Last year he defied a badly cut knee to clock an impressive time of 10.04 in the 100m in Melbourne.

He will again by accompanied by his coach Steve Francis and several other big-name members of his squad including world championships 100m bronze medallist Mike Frater, Beijing Olympics 400m silver medallist Shericka Williams and Melaine Walker, who won the women's 400m hurdles title in Beijing in the absence of injured Australian Jana Rawlinson.

Powell won the 100m at the Melbourne Commonwealth Games, but is still chasing his first major individual sprint title. His highlight of the Beijing Games was anchoring the Jamaican 4x100m relay team to gold in a world record time of 37.10.

After the Beijing Games, Powell recorded seven consecutive 100m races under 9.90 seconds in Europe, including a personal best of 9.72 seconds - the second fastest in history.

John Salvado
AAP