GRENOBLE, France (Kyodo) -- Defending women's champion Kaori Sakamoto and other members of the Japanese contingent hit the ice Wednesday for their last practice before figure skating's Grand Prix Final gets underway in Grenoble, France.

The Beijing Winter Olympic bronze medalist is one of five Japanese entrants in the women's competition featuring the top six performers on the Grand Prix circuit this season.

Yuma Kagiyama and Shun Sato will represent Japan in the men's event, while Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara will fly the flag in the pairs.

While she stumbled at times during the practice, a cheerful Sakamoto expressed confidence about the women's event that opens with the short program on Thursday.

"I'm starting to get a good feel for it," Sakamoto said. "I think I'll be fine for the real thing."

Hana Yoshida will aim for the podium again after taking bronze at last year's Grand Prix Final, while Wakaba Higuchi is returning for the first time in seven years. Mone Chiba and Rino Matsuike will both contest the event for the first time.

The men's short program will be held Friday, with last year's bronze medalist Kagiyama the top hope for Japan in a field headlined by the defending champion, Ilia Malinin of the United States.