Dwain Chambers eyeing indoor trials glory in Sheffield

Chambers (centre) won joint-silver at the 2008 World indoors in Valencia

Dwain Chambers faces a strong field at this weekend's indoor World Trials and UK Championships in Sheffield as he goes for a third consecutive 60m title.

After last week's Birmingham Games win, Chambers, 31, should see off fit-again Mark Lewis-Francis and Craig Pickering.

Lewis-Francis has struggled with form and injury but Chambers said his rival's return had given him a "buzz".

Chris Tomlinson (long jump) and Jenny Meadows (800m) also compete with Qatar hosting the World indoors in March.

Despite the absence of World heptathlon champion Jessica Ennis, who pulled out with a minor foot injury but is already assured of her place in Doha, there are still plenty of battles to keep the spectators entertained.

None more so than the 60m where there appears to be a rejuvenation in sprinting competition, pushing Chambers, who has risen to second in the world rankings, to be Britain's number one.

The European indoor champion will be hoping to go one better next month at the World indoors after finishing joint-second with Kim Collins behind Nigerian Olusoji Fasuba in Valencia in 2008.

The Belgrave Harrier is in hot form after clocking 6.57s in the semi-finals and 6.58s for victory at Birmingham last Saturday in the season's opener to beat Lewis-Francis and Harry Aikines-Aryeetey.

John Smith, Lewis-Francis's coach, is optimistic the former world junior champion and relay Olympic gold medallist in 2004 can resurrect his career after a number of Achilles injuries, but added that Chambers was still the man to beat.

"I would never count Dwain out and, when you have a chip on your shoulder, it's easy to run fast," Smith said, referring to Chambers' two-year drug ban from the sport in 2003.

"I think he should have won last time (in Valencia). I'll put pressure on him and say he should win in Doha."

In other events over the weekend, outdoor World Championship bronze medallist Meadows will look for more glory in the 800m, while Tomlinson is seeking a seventh UK title in the long jump following up his win in Glasgow last month.

Pole-vaulter Kate Dennison is also in action as the 25-year-old looks to build on her impressive sixth at last year's World Championships in Berlin and goes for her fifth consecutive national title.