National 100m champion Joshua Ross will have the chance to become just the second man in history to win Australia's richest footrace from the mark of honour, after receiving the scratch mark for this year's Australia Post Stawell Gift.

Ross was given the ultimate accolade following the rapid progress he has achieved since his 2003 Australia Post Stawell Gift victory and will now chase two imposing and elusive records at this year's 124th running of the famous Easter carnival.

If successful Ross will become just the third man to win the Gift twice and only the second athlete ever to win from scratch, the only other being Madagascan Jean-Louis Ravelomanantsoa in 1975.

Ross faces a tough task to secure his second Gift win, despite managing to retain his national sprint title and setting a personal best time of 10.12 seconds for 100m this year.

Aside from the perennial Stawell smokies who will go into the race with luxury marks and well concealed form, national 200m champion Daniel Batman (0.25m); Nigerian Olympian Ambrose Ezenwa (0.5m); and four-time finalist, American Greg Saddler (0.5m), all pose a threat.

Athens Olympic 4x400m relay silver medalist and experienced Stawell campaigner, Mark Ormond, will also threaten with his handy mark (5.0m).

Batman, who has beaten Ross in their last three head-to-head clashes, including the national 200m final in Sydney earlier this month, will have a slight head start at Stawell and looms as a major danger should they meet in the final on Easter Monday.

Defending champion Jason Hunte from Barbados has entered but is an unlikely starter after struggling for fitness and form since his win last year.

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