Jason Gardener insists he can overcome the distraction of the birth of his second child to win a fourth straight European indoor 60 metres title.

Despite his family commitment and an indifferent start to the season due to a debilitating flu virus, the 31-year-old 'Bath Bullet' is convinced he can see off all-comers at Birmingham's National Indoor Arena.

The Olympic 4x100 metres relay gold medallist admits he felt his lack of preparations might have forced him out of what is almost certain to be his European indoor swansong.

He said: ''As an athlete, you always want to be successful and when you're not, you get very frustrated.

''But, let's face it, I've been in this situation before and have always come good. I'm feeling very relaxed and well-prepared for the competition.''

As for his other impending arrival, Gardener has a plan in place to rush back to his Bath home after tomorrow's qualifying rounds, should his wife give birth on that day.

He said: ''I'm speaking with Nancy as often as possible and her parents are staying and looking after her while I'm away.''

Gardener took training partners Craig Pickering and Ryan Scott to the NIA yesterday to test out a new electronic starting system, which will replace the traditional starter's pistol at the meeting.

''It was used a few years ago and caused all kinds of problems and false starts,'' said Gardener, who was left in his blocks on that occasion at the 2004 Norwich Union Grand Prix.

Gardener is determined to play his part in helping the Norwich Union GB team secure as many medals as possible.

UK Athletics performance director Dave Collins said he will be happy with a tally of six, but Britain's athletes are targeting the best ever total of nine won in The Hague 18 years ago.

Gardener and 20-year-old Pickering certainly have the ability to snatch a brace in their eagerly-anticipated sprint event.

Kelly Sotherton, runner-up in the pentathlon two years ago, and Jessica Ennis will look to set the ball rolling today.

However, despite a recent lapse in her fortunes, defending champion Carolina Kluft should outshine them both.

Andy Turner has the ability to win gold in the 60m hurdles, although he will have to be at his best against former champion Stanislav Olijar of Latvia and Ukrainian Serhiy Demydyuk.

Day two's action offers European outdoor silver medallist Nathan Douglas and Commonwealth champion Phillips Idowu the chance of clinching gold and silver in the triple jump.

European 5,000m silver medallist Mo Farah is a more than capable candidate to win the 3,000m, despite his primary focus being next month's World Cross Country Championships.

Despite having only one indoor 400m race under his belt after injury problems, Robert Tobin can add to the tally, while world leader Nicola Sanders will be looking for nothing short of gold in the women's 400m race.

The final day will see Gardener and Pickering going for gold, along with Jo Pavey, whose Commonwealth 3,000m record last month makes her easily the fastest in that particular field.

Both 4x400m relay squads - the men won silver and the women bronze in Madrid last time - have the ability to add to the country's individual tally.

European Athletics is proposing tougher punishments for athletes who commit doping offences currently worthy of two-year suspensions.

The EAA will table a proposal at the International Association of Athletic Federations (IAAF) Congress in the summer outlining sterner action it believes should be taken against drug cheats.