Although she would love to be instantly successful at the Iditarod with her sled dog team, Zoya DeNure has revealed she has more realistic goals.

Speaking to the Anchorage Daily News, the Gakona resident said it would be unrealistic to expect her canine companions to help her take on the likes of Lance Mackey and Hans Gatt at the front of the pack.

She is set to compete in her second Last Great Race this Saturday (March 6th 2010), which will see her spend up to 14 days in the freezing wastes of Alaska.

As she runs her own sled dog rescue and rehabilitation centre, Ms DeNure will be spoilt for choice when it comes to choosing her final squad.

And she plans to leave it right up to the last minute before packing up the dog harnesses with her team.

"It’s hard at times, I want success right now, all of it, though, in reality, I know that it comes in teeny steps," she remarked.

The race, which currently has 71 entrants, will cover over 1,000 miles before concluding in Nome between the 16th and 20th March 2010.