Austria seeks redemption in the men's super-combined on a hockey-fuelled Sunday at the Winter Olympics that sees Canada's superstar team take on arch-rival the United States.The Austrian men failed to medal in the alpine speed disciplines at Vancouver for the first time since the 1994 Lillehammer Games and veteran Benjamin Raich spearheads a team desperate for glory in an event that comprises a downhill and slalom.
He was boosted by Andrea Fischbacher stunning her rivals to give Austria gold in the women's super-G on Saturday but faces a tough test from in-form Norwegian world champion Aksel Lund Svindal and American Bode Miller.
"I like this track. There are good snow conditions now," said Raich.
"My possibilities are quite good."
On day 10 of the Vancouver Games, the United States continues to top the medals table with six gold, followed by Norway on five, with Germany, South Korea, Canada and Switzerland all on four apiece.
Another six titles are decided with Germany 1 pilot Andre Lange on course for a fourth Olympic gold in the two-man bobsleigh.
With brakeman Kevin Kuske, he heads into the final on the treacherous Whistler Sliding Centre track in pole position, having knocked compatriots Germany 2 off the lead as four teams crashed in the first runs on Saturday.
Christine Nesbitt seeks an Olympic golden double in the 1,500m speedskating final, but teammates who make a Canadian podium sweep possible are among the top rivals blocking her path.
Nesbitt edged Dutch skater Annette Gerritsen for the 1,000m crown on Thursday, but she said she must improve over the longer distance.
"If I skate like I did it won't be good enough to get me on the (1,500m) podium. One of my strengths is if I'm not happy with my race I can use that (as motivation)," she said.
Ski cross makes its Olympic bow at Cypress Mountain with the host nation eyeing a repeat of their medals clean sweep at last month's Winter X Games.
Standing in their way will be the likes of Switzerland's Michael Schmid, top of the World Cup rankings, and Austria's second-ranked Andreas Matt.
Inclusion in the Games is a major milestone for ski cross, in which four racers are pitted against each other down a motocross-style course.
Other medals are at stake in the men's 15km mass start biathlon and the women's 12.5km mass start, but it is hockey that has Canadians excited.
Billed as 'Super Sunday', the puck drops with Russia playing the Czech Republic followed by the United States against Canada and Sweden facing Finland with the outcomes determining which four teams earn byes into the playoff quarter-finals.
Sweden beat Finland for 2006 Turin gold while Canada snapped a 50-year Olympic gold drought in 2002 by denying a US title on home ice and the Czechs beat Russia in 1998's debut of National Hockey League talent in the Games.
"Every TV set in Canada is going to be tuned in. This is going to be unbelievable," said US coach Ron Wilson.
Teammates from 10 different NHL squads will take opposite sides in the US-Canada affair, including US forward Patrick Kane against fellow Chicago Blackhawks Jonathan Toews, Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook of Canada.
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