British swimmers set for European duel against Germany

THE cream of British swimming talent are set to sharpen their duel-meet claws again at the British Gas Great Britain v Germany meet at the Wales National Pool in Swansea next month.

EN GARDE: Double Olympic champion Rebecca Adlington confirmed for duel meet against Germany in Swansea on February 22 and 22 (Getty Images)

The likes of double Olympic champion Rebecca Adlington, world champion Liam Tancock, and Olympic medalists David Davies and Jo Jackson gained a taste for the head-to-head format at December's Duel in the Pool in Manchester and will reappear in Wales.

And after the Brits, who teamed up with swimmers from Italy and Germany, were handed a humbling defeat by a strong USA team in December, they will be eager to establish themselves as the pick of the European countries in Swansea.

But British Swimming head coach Dennis Pursley insists the event will also provide the perfect chance for the British team to fine-tune their long-course technique ahead of the Commonwealth Games trials at the British Gas Swimming Championships in March.

"This is one of the best chances for our swimmers to compete against world class competition without real disruption to their training," said Pursley.

"The British athletes will be coming to the end of an intensive training period before the British Gas Swimming Championships in March, while the German athletes are just returning after their winter break and so are building back into their training period.

"So it's going to be a great opportunity to see who has the mental toughness to get up and race despite the challenges of heavy training.

"As head coach, it is great to see where our athletes are in terms of their individual training plans.

"I will have different expectations from each of the athletes but I look forward to seeing where they are and if we need to make changes to their plans before the rest of the season."

The British Gas Great Britain v Germany meet will take place on February 21 and 22.