Chris Rawlinson is adamant he can he can bring to an end the lengthy unbeaten streak of world 400 metres hurdles champion Felix Sanchez when they meet in Rome tonight.

The Commonwealth champion has frequently claimed he can defeat the Dominic Republic star, unbeaten since finishing second at the Zagreb Grand Prix meeting three years ago.

Since that defeat by Japan's Dai Tamesue, Sanchez has won two world championship titles and kept a clean slate in 36 races.

Rawlinson, however, believes he is running into the sort of form which can bring about the downfall of Sanchez, who narrowly defeated him in the Bergen Golden League meeting three weeks ago.

The Yorkshireman revealed he has asked organisers to put him in lane two so he he can keep his sights on Sanchez, who is expected to start in the lane ahead of him.

''I know Felix has already asked for lane three and I am sure he will get his way,'' said Rawlinson, contesting his sixth race of the year.

Rawlinson, who ran a season's best 48.58 seconds to win the Norwich Union British Grand Prix last Sunday, admitted: ''I have already asked for the second lane - even though I would probably get a faster time from four, five or six.

''But what is important to me is that I try and beat Sanchez. You have to believe you can do it - otherwise what's the point of competing?''

The Yorkshireman ruffled Sanchez when he said he was confident the world champion's winning streak was under threat after the narrow race in Bergen.

''All I said was that I thought I could beat him,'' said Rawlinson. ''I'm sure some of the other athletes go into the race trying not to beat him.

''They think he should be given the (Olympic) gold medal now.''

The Commonwealth champion is possibly in the best shape of his life and is determined to make amends in Athens for the misfortunes which have struck him in previous major events.

Rawlinson said: ''I failed to bring home medals in the past, but I am not running quite as fast this time in the year, as in the past.

''But it is very consistent and I am currently in the build phase, in order to peak for the Olympics.''

Darren Campbell is expected to contest both the 100m and 200m and his confidence will be boosted after winning over the longer distance in Zagreb on Tuesday night.

World champion Kim Collins heads the opposition in the shorter event along with teenage silver-medallist from Paris, Darrel Brown.

Michael East tackles world record holder Hicham El Guerrouj over 1,500m at the venue where the Moroccan set his world record of 3:26.00 six years ago.

Lee McConnell, who achieved the Olympic 400m qualifying standard, again meets the Gateshead winner, world champion Ana Guevara, of Mexico. World bronze-medallist Hayley Tullett tackles the 1,500m for the first time this summer and will be joined in the race by Jo Fenn and Jo Pavey