WORLD and Olympic medallists Rebecca Adlington and Jo Jackson are part of an all-star European side announced for next month's Duel in the Pool in Manchester.

The E-Stars comprise 14 British, 14 Italian - including Federica Pellegrini - and eight German swimmers who will take on a strong USA side that features Michael Phelps at the Manchester Aquatics Centre on December 18-19.

As well as Adlington and Jackson, world champions and world record holders Gemma Spofforth and Liam Tancock will feature.

The 100m freestyle runner-up Fran Halsall, relay bronze medallist Caitlin McClatchey and Olympic open water runner-up David Davies also compete.

Also in the line-up is world 1500m freestyle world champion Alessia Filippi - who kept Adlington out of the medals in the 800m freestyle this summer - along with former world champion Filippo Magnini and Daniela Samulski, three-time medallist at this year's worlds in Rome.

Notable absentees, though, are Paul Biedermann, who took Phelps' world title in Italy, and Britta Steffen, double sprint freestyle world champion and winner ahead of Halsall over two lengths at the Foro Italico.

However, the presence of Pellegrini - one of the world's best swimmers - will add some extra spice.

Both Adlington and Jackson finished ahead of Pellegrini in the 400metres freestyle at last year's Olympics as the pair collected gold and bronze medals.

Jackson then lowered the Italian's world record over eight lengths in Sheffield in March before Pellegrini wrested it back shortly before the worlds.

The 21-year-old then became the first woman to swim 400m under four minutes as she led in Jackson and Adlington in Rome and also lowered her own world record in the 200m free.

The E-Stars team will be led by British Swimming head coach Dennis Pursley, who said: "This is going to be an exciting encounter for everyone involved whether you're a swimmer, a coach or one of the thousands of spectators.

"We've got a great opportunity to race many of the best athletes in the sport and all in our own back yard.

"I'm very much looking forward to presenting a strong challenge to the Americans with athletes from Britain, Italy and Germany in the first competition of its kind in Europe."