Steve Backley, the last man standing of Britain's golden generation, will this weekend attempt to land the world javelin title, which has eluded him in six previous championships.

The Cambridge Harrier has four European and three Commonwealth titles to his name in a 13-year spell among the world's top ten throwers but the World and Olympics have only provided near-miss heartache.

Backley, who launches his latest campaign for global glory at the Stade de France in Paris today, has only one more chance at each as he looks set to retire after next year's Olympics in Athens.

''I am preparing for these championships as if they are a Europeans,'' said Backley, who has silver medals from both the worlds and Olympics.

''If you look at the world scene all the top guys this year are European, so if I approach them in that way then maybe we can get the same result. It would be a memorable achievement if I could finally get that world title.''

The 33-year-old's coach, John Trower, is not even looking beyond qualifying, well aware of what happened at the last worlds in Edmonton two years ago when Backley failed to make the final.

''Steve is in good shape but now's the time to put the blinkers on,'' said Trower. ''It would be great for him if he could get the world title this time. But there is qualifying first and that is not as easy as it sounds.''

Javelin legend Jan Zelezny has plenty of championship gold hoarded away and the Czech thrower is targeting a fourth world title, though his form this year has been patchy, perhaps leaving the way clear for Russia's Sergey Makarov.

Backley's final takes place on Sunday, by which time the pressure on him to land gold for Britain could be immense.

Teesside long jumper Chris Tomlinson could be in with a shout tonight after his leap of 8.16 metres in qualifying, which was only 11cm short of the British record he set last year.

His form has been so disappointing in an injury-hit summer that he planned on sightseeing in Paris tonight, but he is now relishing the prospect of battling for a medal.

''I am going to relax, enjoy the occasion and soak it all up,'' said Tomlinson, whose training partner Jonathan Edwards was just as stunned by his season's best leap, having written off his chances in one of his first appearances in the commentary box since retirement.

Chris Rawlinson insists he will be going for gold in the 400m hurdles final, though reigning champion Felix Sanchez of the Dominican Republic looks the red-hot favourite.

''I have had a shocking preparation yet again with injury and it seems that somebody doesn't want me to achieve something on the world stage,'' said Rawlinson, fifth two years ago.

''But I know I am as good as any of these athletes and I need to make sure I am in the race when it gets to the last 100 metres because that is where I am really strong.

''I am going for gold from the gun because that's the only way I am going to win a medal.''

Teessider Anthony Borsumato fractured his left ankle when crashing out of the 400 metres hurdles, it was confirmed yesterday.

The 29-year-old Sale Harrier was carried from the track on a stretcher after smacking into the eighth hurdle in his opening semi-final.

''It hasn't been decided yet whether Anthony will be treated here or taken back to the UK,'' said the team's spokeswoman.

Long jumper Nathan Morgan, meanwhile, faces further tests on the ankle he injured