His chances have been boosted by the absence of India's Raviraj Dharmraj Chavan, who shocked the Georgian in the opening leg of this year's series.

The mantle to stop Kelekhsashvili is likely to weigh on the shoulders of Stefan Coman of Romania and Ramiz Hasanov of Azerbaijan.

Stefania Priceputu of Romania is looking to secure back-to-back gold medals in the women's under-50 kilogram class on Mamaia Beach.

Turkey's Emine Cataloglu is tipped to be one of the biggest challengers to the reigning champion.

Home favourite Cătălina Axente is also bidding to make it back-to-back titles in the women's over-70kg event.

Those who may have the capabilities to prevent her from achieving such a feat include Liudmyla Avlovets Tychyna of Ukraine and Stefania Zacheila of Greece.

The biggest contenders to claim the men's under-80kg title are Georgia's Nika Kentchadze, Azerbaijan's Omid Abdolali Kamaliaghdam and Hungary's Csaba Vida.

Kentchadze has accumulated three golds and one bronze during this series while Kamaliaghdam has taken one gold and three bronzes.

Vida has been forced to settle for silver on three occasions.

All is to play for in the women's under-60kg event as title holder Francesca Indelicato of Italy has not travelled to Romania, meaning a new champion will be decided.

Ukraine's Iryna Khariv Chykhradze is tipped to make a run for gold but could face staunch opposition through compatriot Daria Medvetska.

A similar story is told in the women's under-70kg, with Ukraine's Alina Berezhna not competing due to pregnancy but still expected to appear as a coach for her national team.

Berezhna will hope that fellow Ukrainian Yulia Kremezna Malyk will take her place but the hosts' Adina Irimia, Turkey's Hatice Tekin and Greece's Argoro Papavasileiou will all believe they have a shot at the title.

Ibrahim Yusubov of Azerbaijan returns as the men's under-90kg champion with Georgians Davit Khutsishvili and Dato Piruzashvili seeking to take the crown.

In the men's over-90kg, Oyan Nazariani of Azerbaijan could be vulnerable to losing his title due to questions surrounding the severity of his arm injury that has kept him out of the previous three legs.

This has opened the door for the likes of Mamuka Kordzaia of Georgia and Fatih Yaşarlı of Turkey to potentially swoop in and seal the gold medal.

A total of 120 athletes from 19 nations are due to compete across the event that is scheduled to take place tomorrow (Saturday) and Sunday (September 4).