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Daegu - Barely 20 seconds will separate Usain Bolt and golden redemption at the world athletics championships on Saturday when the Jamaican showman steps out to retain his 200 crown.
Unable to defend his 100 title when he false-started in the final last Sunday, Bolt will take no chances on the Daegu track this time round, but nor should he need to given his dominance.
"It's my favourite event. If I get a good start and execute, nobody beats me," he said after qualifying with ease on Friday.
Silas Kiplagat, who has the best time of the year, is expected to battle it out for the men's 1,500 metres gold with fellow Kenyan Asbel Kiprop after defending champion Yusuf Saad Kamel went out in the semi-finals.
Anything but gold for Australian Sally Pearson in the women's 100 metres hurdles would be something of a surprise given her form this season and in the heats but a trio of Americans will be snapping at her heels.
The Americans are usually strong favourites in the women's 4x400 metres relay which closes the evening but Russia might fancy an upset with Sanya Richards-Ross out of form and Allyson Felix feeling the effects of doubling in the 200-400.
The eighth day of the championships opens with the men's 50 kms walk in Daegu city centre where the hot and humid conditions should suit the Chinese contenders and France's Yohann Diniz and Slovak Matej Toth likely to be among the medals.
Much will depend on the fitness of defending women's high jump champion Blanka Vlasic in the first of six gold medals to be won in the stadium in the evening.
The Croatian has been struggling with a leg injury and Russian Anna Chicherova, who has the best jump this year of 2.07 metres, will be confident of turning the silver she won in Berlin two years ago into gold.
Norway's Olympic champion Andreas Thorkildsen has dominated the men's javelin this season and is a strong favourite to retain his title.
