With the country's top sprinters laying early markers for the 2017 season, led by Akani Simbine's superb 100m (9.93) and 200m (19.95) times at a league meeting in Pretoria last week, Van Niekerk will aim at giving his home crowd something to talk about from the track at the Free State Athletics Stadium.
After opening his 2016 season with a 9.98 performance over 100m, and with the 200m forming part of his long-term plans, the 400m world record holder will be eager to prove he has not lost any of his raw speed.
He will line up in the Men's 100m race against in-form teenager Gift Leotlela, who clocked 20.50 over 200m at the Varsity Cup meeting in Potchefstroom last week, and Emile Erasmus, who finished second behind Anaso Jobodwana in the short dash at the ASA Speed Series opener in Durban last week.
