Reigning Olympic pole vault champion Steve Hooker will return to high-level competition in Adelaide this weekend for the first time since his disappointing exit from last year’s world championships.

Hooker endured an injury-interrupted 2011, culminating in his elimination from the world titles in South Korea without recording a single clearance.

The Australian team captain was encouraged to clear 5m off a six-step run-up at a Perth inter-club meet earlier this month.

That effort helped prompt his decision to sign up for Saturday’s Adelaide Track Classic, rather than wait until the February 11 grand prix meet in Perth.

“It’s great to be back out there jumping alongside the Australian guys, I missed that opportunity last year so it’s good to be back,” said Hooker.

“It’s been a promising few weeks.

“I jumped five metres off six steps a couple of weeks ago in Perth and the plan for Adelaide is to extend out to eight steps and look for a height of around 5.30m.”

The Adelaide Track Classic will include many of the biggest names in Australian athletics.

World champion hurdlers Sally Pearson and Jana Pittman will be running in flat events rather than over the barriers.

Pearson is contesting the 100m and 200m while Pittman is racing in the 400m.