With five straight Grand Prix crowns and a world title, Osaka has been a happy hunting ground for star Chinese hurdler Liu Xiang.

After missing last year's 110m hurdles race due to injury, Liu had been scheduled to battle for his sixth straight title to start his 2010 season.

However, the Athens Olympic champion and former world record holder told China Daily on Monday he will miss this year's race in the Japanese city on May 8 as his physical condition is not where he wants it to be and he will now set his sights on the Shanghai leg of the recently-launched IAAF Diamond League circuit on May 23.

"I am afraid I will definitely miss the Osaka Grand Prix on May 8," said the Shanghai-born superstar during a Coca-Cola environmental-protection campaign on Monday in Shenzhen. "I will focus on the Shanghai race and hopefully I can get a good result on home soil."

The meet will be Liu's first outdoor appearance of the season. He made a successful return from injury last September at the IAAF Shanghai Golden GP with a stunning second-place finish in 13.15 seconds after a lengthy recovery from a career-threatening injury he sustained before the 2008 Beijing Games.

Since last September, he has suffered a number of minor setbacks to his injured right Achilles' tendon but has raced at four other meets.

The Shanghai event will draw great attention as it will feature the long-awaited showdown between Liu and his arch-rival, Dayron Robles of Cuba.

Liu, however, is trying to keep a lid on expectations.

"I will not predict who is going to beat who. Just let the result come out on the track. I hope the fans do not care much about the result and come and enjoy the competition."

Liu said his injury is recovering well and he is due to start outdoor training this week.

"I am feeling better day by day. I do not think the injury is a problem any more. I am telling myself to train and race like before.

"I will start outdoor training this week and try about 10 hurdles first."

Apart from the Shanghai race, local fans will also get the chance to see Liu perform at November's Asian Games in Guangzhou.

He has won the past two Asian Games' hurdles titles and the Asia's No 1 is not likely to let his stranglehold on the event slip on home soil.

"I will compete at the Asian Games in Guangzhou. I won in Busan and Doha. So my aim is to have the hat-trick. It's always a great feeling to win in front of local supporters."