Paralympic World Cup
Date: Wed 7-Sun 11 May Venue: Manchester
Coverage: Daily reports and photos on bbc.co.uk/sport. Coverage on Sunday 11 May BBC TWO 1600-1745 BST

Some of the world's top Paralympic athletes will continue their preparations for Beijing at this week's Paralympic World Cup in Manchester.

Natalie du Toit will compete in the S9 100m freestyle

The event, which is in its fourth year, features four sports - basketball, cycling, swimming and athletics and runs from Wednesday until Sunday.

Around 400 competitors from 45 different countries are set to take part in the event which takes place in various venues across the city.

"I'm sure the event will be the perfect platform for Britain's athletes ahead of the Paralympics," said ParalympicsGB chief executive Phil Lane.

The event, which is one of the biggest multi-sport events outside the Paralympic Games, will feature a record delegation of over 60 athletes from China.

OLYMPICS BLOG The programme is just a taster of what will be on offer in Beijing BBC Sport's Elizabeth Hudson, who will be reporting on the event from Manchester

The action begins on Wednesday with the wheelchair basketball, which runs until Saturday. The Great Britain men take on European champions Sweden, Germany and the USA with the women playing Brazil, China and the Netherlands.

The cycling events take place in the Manchester Velodrome on Thursday and Friday with Great Britain hoping to maintain their position as the world's top nation in the sport after leading the medal table at last year's World Championships.

Tandem cyclist Anthony Kappes, who is preparing for his first Paralympics this year said: "It is rare to get the chance to compete on home soil against top athletes so this event is a key part of my preparation."

Kappes and his partner Jon Norfolk will be joined by team-mates Darren Kenny and Aileen McGlynn and Ellen Hunter as well as swimmers turned cyclists Jody Cundy and Sarah Storey.

Saturday's swimming event will feature South African Natalie du Toit, who is set to become the first amputee to compete in the Olympics after securing her place in the open water event by finishing fourth in last weekend's qualifier in Seville.

Du Toit will be making the switch back to the pool where she will compete against rising British star Louise Watkin in the S9 100m freestyle, an event where the South African is world and Paralympic champion and world record holder.

Athletics brings the curtain down on the event on Sunday with the likes of London Marathon winner Dave Weir and fellow wheelchair racer Shelly Woods set to take part.

There is also a chance for track athletes Graeme Ballard and Ian Jones and throwers Bev Jones, Stephen Miller and Danny West to show how they are warming up for Beijing.