Dukurs led home a Latvian one-two after the first run with his older brother Tomass last week in their home nation.

However, Tomass Dukurs fell to fourth, giving Germans Felix Keisinger and Alexander Gassner the joint silver medal.

The six-time world champion Martins Dukurs posted the best run on both attempts, but Gassner could prove to be his closest rival for the second gold medal in Sigulda.

Gassner, who won bronze at the 2020 World Championships in the men's skeleton, was made to pay for a poor first run in week one, but two consistent runs could make him Dukurs closest threat.

Austria's Janine Flock, who finished runner-up overall in the IBSF World Cup women's skeleton standings, will look to impress again on the track where she set a new track record.

Flock won the gold medal by nearly a whole second ahead of other medal contenders, The Netherlands' Kimberley Bos and Latvia's Endija Terauda.

Elsewhere, Germany will remain the favourites in the bobsleigh, an event in which they swept the titles last week.

Olympic champions Mariama Jamanka and Francesco Friedrich were victorious last week in the two-woman and two-man bobsleigh respectively.

In the women's event, Austria's Katrin Beierl and Germany's Kim Kalicki won the minor medals last week and could claim the gold this week.

Beierl and Jennifer Onasanya finished just 0.13sec off the pace of Jamanka after two runs and will fancy their chances of gold this week.

Friedrich won gold twice last week and the two-man bobsleigh is set to comprise of two races over two days again.

The German got the better of Johannes Lochner twice, while Switzerland's Michael Vogt claimed bronze on consecutive days too, with all three athletes looking to add to their medal tally this weekend.

Skeleton events are scheduled to be held tomorrow, before the two-woman and two-man bobsleigh races are set for Saturday.

On Sunday, the second two-man bobsleigh race will take place.