Gold lining for Russia

If you look at the results of the Sprint - the race closest in style to the relay leg - three of the Russian quartet feature in the top ten (Ahkatova 4th, Olga Zaitseva 9th and Ishmouratova 10th) with Kati Wilhelm the only German in seventh.

There is no doubt that the Germans - on their day - can match the 2002 bronze medallists, but the consistency of Akhatova - yet to finish outside the top four - can see her hold off the challenge of Wilhelm on the final leg.

Everything may well hinge on which Wilhelm turns up on the range.

On the anchor leg, Wilhelm is certainly quicker over the snow than Akhatova, but can be brilliant - as she was in the Pursuit - or below-par with the rifle in her hand.

The three spare rounds give Wilhelm the chance to compensate for her erratic shooting, but if Katrin Apel - on the third leg - is off the pace at the handover, Wilhelm may be tempted to push too hard to reel in the Russians only to crumble on the range as she did in the Individual.

German women's coach Uwe Mussigang has gone for the super-solid double silver medallist Martina Glagow on the lead-off leg, and the equally sharp-shooting Andrea Henkel on the second.

But the risk is that if Anna Bogaliy can stay with Glagow on the first leg, Ishmouratova - sharper on the skis than Henkel - can build up a lead that will leave Apel and Wilhelm under pressure.

While the Games' two outstanding women's teams battle it out for gold, the fight for bronze looks less clear-cut.

Norway's foursome of Tora Berger, Liv Grete Poiree, Gunn Margit Andreassen and Linda Tjoerhom is packed with potential, and could - on their day - challenge for the win.

But the 2002 silver medallists' collective inability to find any sort of form on the range surely counts them out of the gold-medal equation and may mean missing out on a medal all together.

France will rely on surprise Sprint winner Florence Baverel-Robert to refind her form after a disappointing Pursuit, though may have to place too many hopes in an out-of-form Sandrine Bailly pulling out all the stops on the anchor leg.

A better bet may be the Belarusian foursome including Olga Nazarova and Olena Zubrilova, who have consistently placed inside the top ten, while the Ukrainians - anchored by Sprint bronze medallist Lilia Efremova - and the fast-improving Chinese remain outsiders.

Torino 2006 schedule/results