The fifth-year medical student's win last year came after a hard-fought battle with clubmate Ben Anderson and Hill City-University's Caden Shields.
Meffan was denied a chance of completing a second double (Edmond Cup and Otago cross-country), after finishing runner-up to Anderson in the Edmond Cup a month earlier.
But Meffan did join a select group of athletes in achieving the cross-country double in 2012, the first time this had been achieved since Andrew Davidson (University) in 2005.
Should he win today, and achieve a third consecutive Otago cross-country title, it will be the first time a runner has achieved that feat since Jeff Spillane (Hill City) did so on the course from 2000 to 2002.
It will also give Meffan another shot at the triple crown, which includes the Otago road championship title, to be held on the 10km Clyde to Alexandra course on August 23.
The course at Waikouaiti today is expected to be wet and soft, which will suit the mudlarks and off-road runners making up a very strong strong field.
Anderson, Three Peaks winner and former New Zealand marathon champion Stafford Thompson (Ariki), and 2012 Otago marathon champion Jason Palmer (Leith) are among the contenders.
The race for the open women's title has heated up as Shireen Crumpton (Hill City-University) hunts down a ninth title. Crumpton has technically won the race nine times since 1998, but her victory in 2001 did not qualify her for the Otago title, as she was registered with Counties-Manukau at the time.
Crumpton, who last won the title in 2009, can expect a strong challenge from clubmate and Otago mountain biking champion Mary Gray, who has shown enough running credentials tto warrant being a strong contender. Also in the mix are Otago 1500m champion Bella Bloomfield Hill City-University) and Bridget Thompson (Ariki).
The clash for the masters women's title could be intriguing.
Three Peaks champion Louisa Andrew (Leith) overcame any threat posed by Otago marathon and half-marathon champion Mel Aitken (Leith) in the Edmond Cup two weeks ago, but today's event is longer, and Aitken may have more time to settle.
Out to spoil the party for the Leith duo is Donna Young (Caversham), the former Scottish international and winner of the Barnes cross-country.
Two-time senior champion Geoff Anderson (Caversham) is favoured in the masters men's event. Others include Chris Sole (Leith), Peter Clark (Civil Service), Stephen Bloomfield, Mark Chignell (Hill City-University) and Russell Hurring (Ariki).
Judging by his form in the Edmond Cup two weeks ago, Joshua Baan (Caversham) could be a bolter for the junior men's title. Also in contention are clubmate Jake Jackson-Grammer and Invercargill's Jordan Rackham De Spong.
Caledonian Mile champion Melissa Halley (Ariki) and Charlotte Homan (Hill City-University) are strong contenders for the junior women's title.
Hanna English (Ariki), the national secondary schools cross-country champion and Edmond Cup open women's winner, should be untroubled in winning the women's under-18 title.
Oliver Chignell (Hill City-University) should be the one to watch in the race for the men's under-18 title.
Otago cross-country: Waikouaiti, today
12.45pm: Age groups.
1.50pm: Open women (8000m) and open men (12,000m).
