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Ladbrokes St Leger runner-up Romsdal returns to the scene of his sole victory when making his seasonal reappearance in the Listed 888 Sport Magnolia Stakes at Kempton Park.
The John Gosden-trained four-year-old is the star attraction in the mile-and-a-quarter contest, which has attracted five runners.
While boasting the best form the son of Halling, who finished third behind Australia in the Derby and second to Kingston Hill at Doncaster, has just the one win to his name, in a maiden last April.
The Newmarket handler said: "Romsdal ran some good races last year in top three-year-old company and has previously won around Kempton. We thought this was a suitable race to start his four-year-old campaign with."
William Knight is optimistic Aussie Reigns can leave behind some moderate performances out in Meydan in January and February and come back to the level of form that saw him claim third in last year's Winter Derby at Lingfield.
Knight said: "Aussie Reigns has been disappointing in Dubai, but he just seemed to race a bit keen out there. Since he has been back he has been training well and he did a nice piece of work the other morning.
"He has race fitness on his side and while Romsdal is the one to beat, I think Aussie Reigns has a bit more tactical speed.
"We thought about going for the Winter Derby, but that race was very competitive and this race tends cut up, so it was the right option. Although he is the lowest rated, he loves Kempton and I think he will run a big race."
Afonso De Sousa has failed to fire in three outings since joining David O'Meara from Aidan O'Brien, most recently when beating one home in this year's renewal of the Winter Derby.
Despite the below-par efforts, owners Middleham Park Racing are sticking by the five-year old.
Spokesman Nick Bradley said: "It looks a red-hot race with Romsdal in there and we are probably running for place money as we are still trying to figure him out. He is very much a work in progress.
"He had good form on the turf and on the all-weather at Dundalk before coming over. Although we have been disappointed so far we have not given up on him yet.
"After his run in the Winter Derby we decided not to go for the All-Weather Finals Day as he probably wouldn't have been competitive.
"We did think about running him at Doncaster in the mile Listed race, but as we had Penitent going for that we decided to stick with Kempton."