Chambers and Meadows keen to get off the blocks

Chambers, who shared the 60 metres silver medal with Kim Collins two years ago in Valencia, is strongly tipped to follow in the footsteps of Jason Gardener as the only Briton ever to win the short-race title.

The reformed drug cheat is the most experienced sprinter in the field and his lifetime best of 6.42 seconds, which won him last year's European title, is vastly superior to his opponents.

Chambers is the world's third-fastest ever performer, but knows reputations will mean nothing against rivals also eyeing the substantial £27,000 first prize - particularly US champion Ivory Williams.

Williams's recent victory in Albuquerque saw him strike a hundredth of a second from Chambers's world-leading time of 6.50 seconds, which he posted at the British trials in mid-February.

Chambers admitted: "Going in with the fastest time in the world, you think you are ahead of the field and everybody, but I've got to use my brain a little bit more to be smarter about how I approach this situation."

Meadows has had her confidence bolstered since winning last summer's world outdoor 800m bronze medal.

She has also been in brilliant form this season, highlighted by breaking Kelly Holmes's indoor record last nth in Birmingham.

"It helps to have that experience behind me now that I'm coming into the best form ever," said Meadows, who is delighted that UK Athletics head coach Charles van Commenee has handed her the captaincy.

The Wigan star doesn't feel pressurised by the appointment although, despite her glowing performances this season, she is under no illusions that her opponents will test her to the limit, particularly Russian pair Yevgeniya Zinurova and Mariya Savinova.

"I've done a lot of homework, I know stats are only an indication of what goes on but it's such a competitive event this year I've written eight names down on a piece of paper," she said.