A day before Swedish broadcaster, SVT, releases the next batch of confirmed artists for their 2009 Eurovision Song Contest national selection competition, Melodifestivalen, and a big surprise entrant seems to have been revealed in the Swedish media.

Maria Haukaas Storeng, who stormed to victory in this year's Norwegian show and took 5th place at the Eurovision Song Contest looks set to enter the competition. She is rumoured to be entering a duet entry with Anna Sahlene, the former Estonian Eurovision Song Contest representative and two-time Melodifestivalen participant.

Due to her commitments as co-host of Melodi Grand Prix 2009 and reigning competition winner, she would not be free to perform in Melodifestivalen until the fourth and final semi final on February 28th, leaving some doubt as to whether the rumours can be confirmed. You can read more about Maria's role in MPG here.

Anna Sahlene is Swedish but sang for Estonia in Tallinn, taking joint third place along with the United Kingdom. She was also set to participate in the Romanian national finals earlier this year with the song Dr Frankenstein before withdrawing due to clashes with her schedule.

Should Maria be confirmed as a participant in the upcoming competition, the confirmed co-host of Melodi Grand Prix 2009 would be looking to go in the opposite direction to the most successful Eurovision Song Contest female artist, Elisabeth Andreassen. Elizabeth represented native Sweden before performing in a duet with Hanne Krogh for Norway in 1985. The combination saw the pair win the Eurovision Song Contest in Gothenburg that year. She represented Norway, her adopted home, twice more, taking second place with a solo performance in Oslo in 1996.

SVT have not confirmed the story published across the Swedish media today. The media are tipping them to perform the jury selected song Killing me tenderly, which had according to the same Swedish sources, been destined for Elin Lanto to perform.

• Click here to purchase Maria Haukaas Storeng's latest album, Hold on be strong here.
• Click here to purchase the Melodifestivalen 2008 CD from CDON.COM
• Click here to purchase the Melodifestivalen 2008 DVD from CDON.COM
• Click here to purchase the Melodifestivalen 2007 CD from CDON.COM
• Click here to purchase the Melodifestivalen 50 years double DVD from CDON.COM