Powell aims to go faster than ever - regardless of his rivals

ASAFA Powell believes he'll run fast at this weekend's Aviva Grand Prix - regardless of American Tyson Gay's involvement.

FIGHTING TALK: Asafa Powell claims he is in top form ahead of this weekend's Aviva Grand Prix in Gateshead (Getty Images)

Gay and Powell go head-to-head over 100m at the IAAF Diamond League event, with the Jamaican red-hot favourite following his world leading 9.82 seconds in Rome.

Gay returned to action for the first time since May last weekend, losing over 200m to US team-mate Walter Dix in Eugene.

"Tyson is a great competitor but you know I'm there to compete and I'm there to win, so I definitely do not focus on any one person, or anything like that," said Powell, who has already notched Diamond League wins in Doha and Oslo, in addition to Rome.

"There's a lot more guys in the race and I just want to be the one who is on top.

"With or without him (Gay), I'm going out there to run fast.  It doesn't really matter but you know sometimes when you have stronger competitors in the race, it kind of pushes you a bit more.  

"You know you're a professional athlete so you really have to compete - with or without strong competition.

"My training has been going well and the season has been going well, so I just want to continue with that.  I just want to get better and better as the season goes by and faster and faster each competition."

Powell has fond memories of the Gateshead track, equalling the then 9.77 sec world record there four years ago.

British sprinters Marlon Devonish, Mark Lewis-Francis and Craig Pickering will also be on the start line, with all three key to impress after being named in the 4x100m relay squad for this month's European Athletics Championships in Gateshead.

British number one Dwain Chambers will not be involved because of a ban on convicted doping cheats imposed by the EuroMeeting promoters.

Meanwhile, Usain Bolt has announced he will switch from 200m to 100m at Thursday's IAAF Diamond League meeting in Lausanne.

Bolt's representatives confirmed the decision was a precaution as the Olympic and world champion recovers from an achilles tendon injury.

"After consulting Dr. Mueller, the doctor who treated him in Munich, the Jamaican decided to run in a 100m instead of the 200m in order to avoid any new injury," the organisers of the Athletissima meeting added on their website.