Bode Miller and Didier Cuche are battling injuries entering this weekend's speed races, while Michael Walchhofer is feeling ready to add to his collection of seven podium finishes on the Saslong course.

Miller sprained his ankle during a volleyball game with teammates last weekend and is still regaining his fitness after skipping summer training, while Cuche broke his rib in a training fall last week.

Still, Cuche led Thursday's final training session with the help of some injected painkillers.

"Today it worked better than yesterday," Cuche said of the injection, adding that pushing off at the start is still "really painful."

A super-G is scheduled for Friday, followed by the featured downhill Saturday.

Cuche won a super-G on the Saslong two years ago and leads the downhill standings, having won this season's opening downhill in Lake Louise, Alberta, and finishing second to Swiss teammate Carlo Janka two weeks ago in Beaver Creek, Colo.

The swelling around Miller's ankle has gone down enough for the American to step into his ski boot.

"It's healing _ slowly," Miller said. "It's tight and it hurts but once it's in the boot there's no damage to the ligament. In a few positions it feels bad, but aside from that, it feels good."

Miller won the super-G here three years ago and registered two runner-up finishes _ one in super-G and one in downhill to Walchhofer last year. The New Hampshire native is winless since taking a downhill in Kvitfjell, Norway, at the end of the 2007-08 season en route to his second overall World Cup title.

Despite the ankle problem and lack of fitness, Miller likes his chances because the course isn't too physically demanding.

"Yeah, it's not super-technical. It's pretty smooth, the snow is in good condition so that's a little bit less of a beating on it," he said. "It's mostly a ski race and if your skis are quick here you do well. The gliders always do well."

Still, Walchhofer remains the man to beat.

The Austrian led Wednesday's opening training session and is aiming for his third consecutive downhill victory on the Saslong.

"He's been the most consistently fast here," Miller said. "He's the strongest glider, probably, and the Atomics (skis) have a pretty good record here."

Cuche called Val Gardena Walchhofer's "living room."

"He will be top three for sure," Cuche said of his rival.

The last skier besides Walchhofer to win the downhill here was Steven Nyman of Sundance, Utah, in 2006.

At 6-foot-4 and 215 pounds, Nyman has a similar build to Walchhofer, and enjoys watching the Austrian.

"He's just solid and clean on his boards," Nyman said, rejecting the criticism of Walchhofer for his unconventional style.