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Trainer Olivia Cairns’ bid for a historic third Battle of the Bush trophy during the Queensland Racing Carnival through the winter will pick up steam at a non-Tab country meeting at Nanango on Saturday.

Olivia Cairns won the inaugural Battle of the Bush Final with Mason's Chance in 2018 and won it for a second time with Ammoudi Bay in 2022.

She is bidding for a third trophy with Fire King.

Fire King will fulfil part of the Battle of the Bush qualifying conditions of having started five times at non-TAB country meeting's in the past 12 months when he tackles the Open Handicap over 1000 metres.

Now based at Beaudesert after years of training in Mackay, Cairns has booked three kilogram-claiming apprentice Rob Thorburn to partner Fire King who gave the former North Queenslander her first win in the Country Cups Challenge Final at Doomben in December.

Since his famous Country Cups Challenge win, Fire King has started three times for two placings including his latest when third in a 1000 metre Open Handicap at Dalby last Saturday.

"This will be his fifth country run so he'll now be eligible to run in a qualifier for the Battle of the Bush," Cairns said.

Fire King lines up against 'the Bundaberg Bullet' - King Klaus - on Saturday. 

King Klaus was handed the grand stand with a mammoth 68.5kgs - 6.5kgs more than second top weight Fire King.

Trainer Gary Clem has also alleviated King Klaus' massive impost and matched Cairns' move with the booking of three kilogram-claiming apprentice, Brodie Moffat. 

Clem will be double handed in the Open Handicap with the consistent Jamesatelli – a Kelly Gates mount – on the minimum with only 55kgs.

King Klaus - an eight-year-old - faces a massive drop in class following his latest effort when he beat two runners home in the Swiss Ace Plate at the Sunshine Coast last November.

Clem discovered after the Swiss Ace that King Klaus pulled a chest muscle which forced an immediate spell.

"He tore a muscle on his chest in the Swiss Ace but it's fixed now and the muscle has grown back," Clem said.

"He's coming along well and he'll head back to Brisbane after this run for some better races.

"He's getting a bit older and has lost some of his pace but he should be very competitive."

King Klaus has a 50 per cent winning strike rate first-up with four wins from eight starts while Jamesatelli was a last start second to Magic On Ice over 1075 metres at Thangool last month.

Clem is a hobby trainer at Bundaberg and drives trains for a living at the local sugar mill during the crushing season.