The past two Melbourne Cup winners Americain and Dunaden head the order of entry for this year's race with favourite Mount Athos safely in the the 24-horse field.

The jostling for positions gets underway in earnest this week with Thursday's Newcastle Cup and feature races at Randwick and Caulfield on Saturday giving horses the chance to improve their positions.

English stayer Mount Athos, from the Luca Cumani stable and the Robert Hickmott-trained equal second favourite Green Moon are at 20th and 25th respectively but will move up one spot when Jukebox Jury is officially withdrawn at next week's declaration stage.

Dual Cup winning Irish trainer Dermot Weld's hopes rest with Galileo's Choice who is 31st in the order of entry and not scheduled to run again before the race.

More Joyous (88th) has not yet passed the first elimination clause but can lift her standing with a first three finish in the Cox Plate.

Weight-for-age star Manighar, favourite for Saturday's Underwood Stakes, is at three with Caulfield Cup title holder Southern Speed at four.

Ethiopia (nine), Polish Knight (16) and Zabeelionaire (26) are the highest ranked four-year-olds, while 2007 Cup winner Efficient is at 12.