Wariner in great claim

The 23-year-old American is among a quality field at Saturday's IAAF Japan Grand Prix in Osaka, a dress rehearsal for this year's world athletics championships at the same venue.

"I'm not thinking about after my career is over," Wariner said. "I'm looking at defending my titles but I want to break the world record and run the first sub-43 race."

The heir apparent to Michael Johnson, Wariner can join his compatriot in the pantheon of greats if he secures a second world title in August and another Olympic gold in Beijing next year.

"I've still got things I want to accomplish," said Wariner. "But if it all falls into place and people call me the greatest ever... it doesn't matter as long as I achieve all my goals."

Johnson set the current 400m world record of 43.18 in 1999 while Wariner's personal best stands at 43.62.

The men's 400m hurdles contains the deepest field in Saturday's meeting with the top three medallists from the 2005 world championships all present.

Helsinki gold medallist Bershawn Jackson promised a quick race and warned his rivals that he would be looking to lay down a marker for this year's worlds.

"This race will be a statement for what happens at the world championships," said the American. "But I have to make sure I can keep injury free - only the strongest survive."

Jackson should be the slight favourite to win despite the presence of Helsinki runner-up James Carter and Dai Tamesue of Japan, who took bronze in Finland.

American Lauryn Williams should encounter little resistence in the women's 100 metres, the world champion admitting she would be using the race to get used to the surroundings in Osaka.

"Being defending champion there will be definitely be pressure on me to defend my title," said Williams, who also took silver at the 2004 Athens Olympics.

"But this meet is important to get comfortable with the situation and to get used to the time difference. I just have to get race sharp and peak at the right time."

This year's world championships take place at Osaka's Nagai Stadium from August 25th to September 2nd.