A handful of repeat performers will be hoping that Friday 13th really is lucky for some this week, as they battle for a place in the Norwegian final on 4th February tonight

Two become one
Although cynical about a future attempt at the Eurovision Song Contest after semifinal disappointment for Finland in 2005, Geir Rønning returns to his home country to give it another shot. Geir must be hoping to improve on his 1996 showing in the Melodi Grand Prix where he was awarded joint second place to Elisabeth Andreassen's winning song I evighet. Geir has come the closest to the Eurovision Song Contest final of all Friday's semi performers, making it to last year's international semi for neighbouring Finland, but missing out on a place in the final.

Geir teams up with Jorun Erdal, who makes her third appearance in a Norwegian preselection. Viewers will remember her gutsy performance of I am rock 'n' roll last year, which gave the Wig Wam boys a good run for their money and ended up in second place.

Joining the former second-placers is Arlene Wilkes, who was runner-up in Norway's 2004 national selection. Billled as one of the most all-round entertainers in Norway, the Trinidad-born singer's CV includes extensive work in musical theatre.

Mocci – more room to imrove?
Perhaps the return perfomer with less to prove – and therefore less pressure – is Mocci, who finished a distant third place in the 2001 Melodi Grand Prix. That year's winning song, On my own, went on to finish last in Copenhagen, no doubt leaving Norwegian viewers wondering whether Mocci would have been a better choice. Friday's semi could bring the bubbly 36-year old a step closer to showing her potential on the international stage.

All four artists join newcomers Trine Rein, Kirsti Carr and Christina Undhjem on Friday, competing to secure a position in the grand final on 4th February.

� You can find the list of participants here in our Norway 2006 section