SASKATCHEWAN (CBC) - Four Canadian speedskaters have a day to prepare for the challenge ahead, namely one of the biggest performances of their lives.

Charles Hamelin and Olivier Jean, for the men, and Kalyna Roberge and Valerie Maltais, for the women, have advanced to Saturday's semifinals at a World Cup event in Montreal.

But it was a disappointing day at Maurice Richard Arena for two Canadians, Guillaume Bastille and Tania Vicent, who were eliminated from further competition in the 1,500.

The meet will help determine how many skaters each country can send to the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver.

Canada automatically gets one spot per distance, and a team in the 3,000 and 5,000 relays, but it will be aiming to have the maximum three men and three women in the 500, 1,000 and 1,500 events.

The rankings from the end of this week will be combined with the results from a meet next weekend in Marquette, Mich., where Bastille and Vincent will have to do well if they want to get to the Olympics.

Skaters in the top 32 spots in each distance will compete in Vancouver, the top 36 spots for the 1,500.

This week's World Cup event is a chance to gather intelligence before the big show, so Canada is keeping an eye on favourites Korea, China and the United States.

The top male competitors include Korea's Lee Ho-Suk and American J.R. Celski. Celski is not at the meet this week because he's still recuperating from a significant leg injury. He told reporters he intends to be on the ice in Vancouver.

On the women's side, two-year world champion Wang Meng is the one to beat.

Canada's men's Olympic squad also features Hamelin's brother Francois, Francois-Louis Tremblay of Alma, Que., and Guillaume Bastille of Riviere-du-Loup, Que.

The women's team includes Jessica Gregg of Edmonton and Marianne St-Gelais of Roberval, Que.