The EIS at Sheffield is again the host to the Northern Indoor Championships tomorrow and Sunday with the prospect of some top class performances.

The cast is headed by Katarina Johnson-Thompson (Liverpool), heir apparent to Jessica Ennis-Hill in the heptathlon. The two will clash in Gotzis in May.

At Sheffield Johnson-Thompson returns to competition for the first time since July when injury ruled her out of the Commonwealth and European Championships. She does the 60m hurdles, the shot and her number one event the long jump where she has a best of 6.92.

In the hurdles she comes up against Karla Drew (City of Sheffield), returning to the venue where she retained her English Indoor Pentathlon title last weekend with a personal best score of 6199. Drew also contests the 60m which looks to be a close contest between Sheffield-based Louise Bloor and Annabelle Lewis (Hull) with Bloor also listed for the 200.

In the men’s events Adam Hague (Dearne), fresh from his 5.35 performance, should win the pole vault in the senior age group as well as his own U20 section. Sheffield trio Tim Burn, the defending champion, Rick Beardsall and Matthew Quine should be prominent in the 400m.

In the under 20 men’s section Joe Hobson (Sheffield), triple gold medallist in the U17 group last year, tackles the hurdles, long jump and shot with Rotherham’s Leo Rowley favourite to add the shot title to his U17 win last year.

In the U20 women events Kristie Edwards (Sheffield) defends both the 60 and 200m titles with the talented Chesterfield athlete Alicia Barrett challenging her in the 60 as well as doing the hurdles. In the field Abigail Roberts (Dearne ALC) goes for a pole vault double in her own age group and in the seniors whilst last year’s U17 winner Toni Buckingham (Barnsley) looks for further success in the shot.

A strong contender at U17 level is Billie-Jo Harris (Sheffield) who is listed for both sprints whilst her team mate Emily Simpson goes for the 1500 metres.

The action starts at 10.30am on both days.