The in-form Moody (23), a physical education student, won the 10km road race at Christchurch at Queen's Birthday weekend and will start as favourite.
Moody is one of the most talented distance runners in Otago and has the potential to represent New Zealand at the Commonwealth and Olympic Games. He finished third in the Edmond Cup in 2008.
He has finishing speed and just has to be in contact with 800m left to win the event again.
The main challenge will come from Dunedin carpetlayer Bevan Stevens (25) who dominated last year's race and won by 19sec.
Stevens, the winner of last year's Kepler Challenge, has the strength and stamina to tear the field apart if he is allowed to get a break.
Dougal Thorburn (29), a Dunedin doctor, has the endurance and experience to win the senior men's race.
He is an experienced mountain runner and has represented New Zealand at the world championships. He has also competed in the Coast to Coast.
Another challenge could come from Daniel Balchin (Caversham) who dominated the senior distance races on the track last summer. He has the speed to win in a sprint finish.
Dark horses are Nathan Baxter (Ariki), who finished runner-up to Moody two years ago and also won the Otago cross-country title. He is the workhorse who gets his results through hard and consistent training.
The Edmond Cup, one of the most highly regarded races in Otago athletics, was first held in 1907 and has been won by some of the greats of Otago athletics.
Kirsty Morris (Leith), who has won the women's title for four of the past five years, is the favourite to win again.
She would be challenged if New Zealand cross-country representative Rachel Kingsford (Hill City) starts.
The junior women's race should be won by Shauna Pali, who finished third in the New Zealand secondary schools championships in Ashburton last weekend.
Fellow Hill City runner Laura Carruthers, who finished eighth in Ashburton, should finish runner-up.
The starting times are 1.30pm for senior women and 2.35pm for senior men.
