Jeffrey Buttle will know quickly if his quad preparation for the figure skating season has paid off.

Buttle, the three-time Canadian title holder, and world champion Brian Joubert of France highlight the Skate Canada International event beginning with the short programs Friday in Quebec City on CBC Sports.

Jeffrey Buttle missed the entire Grand Prix season last year due to a back injury.
(Toshifumi Kitamura/AFP/Getty Images)

The 25-year-old Sudbury skater has worked the difficult quadruple toe loop into his long program, which he added to his repertoire while training in California this past summer.

Buttle wanted to add the element last year, but a back injury that forced him to miss the entire Grand Prix season put those plans on hold.

"[The quad] is coming along really well," the 2006 Olympic bronze medallist told CBCSports.ca. "I started landing it last month in practice, but the consistency definitely needs to improve."

While many of the top skaters already perform the quad in their programs, Buttle said Joubert remains the skater to beat this season.

"He's the world champion and has definitely pushed the bar over the last couple of years," said Buttle, who finished sixth at the 2007 worlds. "He's just really strong technically. He's a great jumper and the quads come fairly easy so I think that's something that definitely sets him apart."

On the women's side, world silver medallist Mao Asada of Japan will battle Canada's Joannie Rochette and American Emily Hughes.

Asada is part of a dominant Japanese team that includes world champion Miki Ando, who won't be in Canada this weekend.

"The Japanese women have really set the bar high with their jumps," said CBC Sports analyst Tracy Wilson. "Sometimes it can be a cycle, but it's also the current champions who motivate the young skaters."

Also competing for Canada are Jessica Dube and Bryce Davison, the pairs team that shocked China's 2006 world champions Pang Qing and Tong Jian to capture the Skate America competition last week in Reading, Pa.

The rising Canadian tandem of Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir will compete in the ice dance event.