Before late entries, numbers totalled 2226 on Wednesday night.
This was made up of a record field of 206 in the marathon, 1270 in the half marathon run and 750 in the half marathon walk.
Of interest will be the form of 2006 champion Sarah Chisnall, has been plagued by niggling injuries for the past three years.
Chisnall's time in 2006 was 2hr 55min 7sec, and she lowered this to 2hr 43min 19sec in Christchurch the following June.
But shortly afterwards, Chisnall was forced to take an enforced break from her running to offset injury concerns, returning to light jogging earlier this year and a 2hr 58min marathon in Christchurch at Queen's Birthday Weekend.
She contested the Otago half marathon championship in Baclutha in late July, winning the open women's title in 1hr 21min 39sec.
While there is no doubting Chisnall's credentials, just how she will feature in today's Moro-sponsored marathon can only be decided on the course.
One other athlete in the women's field that may feature is Sue Cuthbert.
Cuthbert has been to the fore in the past two marathons, winning the open title in 2007 in 3hr 5min 37sec and finishing runner-up to Shireen Crumpton last year in 3hr 6min 1sec.
The open men's field is wide open but it is possible Tom Hunt will feature again.
Hunt (21), a Dunedin architect and draughtsman, first ran the full marathon course in 2007, finishing fourth in 2hr 54min 8sec, and returned last year to finish third and lower his time to 2hr 41min 51sec.
Although Hunt's trophy cabinet is a little bare compared to the past two years, a sub-2hr 40min time is a possibility and would have him well placed to claim overall honours.
In 2007, Hunt was the Otago 3000m and half marathon champion.
Last year, he won the Otago 10,000m and Three Peaks titles, and his third place in the Dunedin marathon was good enough to lay claim to the Otago title given that winner Rowan Hooper and second-placed Sam Wreford were both from Canterbury.
Like the marathon, the half marathon race is wide open.
Front-runners include national masters road champion Glen Ferguson, Edmond Cup steeplechase champion Callan Moody and Otago junior track champion Daniel Balchin.
South African-based Jannie Kruger is another contender.
Having contested the Comrades ultra-distance mountain race, he could put in a challenge at the head of the field.
In the women's section, national masters cross-country and road silver medallist Louisa Andrew and Kirsty Morris, who will be wanting to end the winter season with a victory following a period of lean pickings this year, are two to watch for in the half marathon.
Dunedin marathon
Tomorrow 8am: Marathon starts approximately 1km from the albatross colony visitors centre, with buses departing from the Edgar Centre for the start between 6.30am and 6.45am.
9.30am: Half marathon starts in Portsmouth Dr.
10.30am: First runners from each section expected at the finish line at Watson Park, Port Chalmers.
