Gay, who fought his way back from injury to secure his place in the United States Olympic 100m team at the national trials last week – where he clocked 9.86sec – will take on a runner in Powell who has also just secured his own Olympic 100m spot at the Jamaican trials in 9.88.

The Aviva London Grand Prix meeting at Crystal Palace could be an important indicator of what is to come a few weeks – and a few stations – along the line at Stratford's Olympic Park.

"This is a big year for me," said 29-year-old Powell (pictured top).

"I'm not getting any younger but there's a lot more to come from me.

"I've learned a lot from past major championships.


"I don't take anything for granted and I'm working as hard as ever.

"I know that I'm capable of running 9.8, 9.7, 9.6, so all that I'm focusing on is myself."

Gay (pictured above), who ran a scintillating 9.78 at Crystal Palace in 2010 but was unable to follow that up in 2011 through injury, is excited to run again in south London as he heads back to full fitness.

"I'm looking forward to coming back to Crystal Palace for the Aviva London Grand Prix," said Gay, also 29.

"I felt great two years ago and hope to feel the same this year.

"I haven't raced much this year and I'm feeling better each time out there on the track.

"My body is getting closer to where I want it to be.


"I've shown over the years that through all of the injuries I'm a fighter, and I hope to be fighting for that Olympic gold in London later this summer."

Powell, the former world record holder who has run the most sub-10sec 100m races of any athlete in history, will be looking to overcome past Olympic disappointments from Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008, where he finished fifth in the 100m final on both occasions.

Joining these two – who will start their participation in Friday evening's heats - will be an array of international sprinting talent with world and Olympic titles to their name.

Powell's Jamaican relay team-mate Nesta Carter – part of the Jamaican Olympic and world champion 4x100m squads – will line up alongside Kim Collins (pictured above), the 36-year-old St Kitts and Nevis sprinter who won the world title in 2003, and impressed with an individual and relay bronze at last year's World Championships in Daegu.

Commonwealth champion Lerone Clarke, another sub-10 second Jamaican, will also pose a threat at Crystal Palace.

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