European 5,000metres silver medallist Mo Farah has pledged to put a smile back on the face of athletics by breaking a British record at this weekend's Norwich Union Grand Prix.

Farah is fed up with the furore surrounding Dwain Chambers' selection for the World Indoor Championships, which has detracted from some top performances by British athletes in recent weeks.

The long-distance runner wants some positive publicity and is hoping to smash John Mayock's long-standing UK two miles record of eight minutes 17.06seconds on Saturday.

"I have come here to do the best that I can. It is about putting British athletes on track and showing how well we are doing as a team," said Farah.

"Initially, I wasn't going to do Birmingham but training was going so well that I changed my mind.

"I'm trying to take one race at a time - and I know this weekend won't be easy. However, I will be disappointed if I do not run under 8.17 mins.

"It would also be nice to go to the World Cross Country Championships, but it is a big year so I have to be selfish as it is every athlete's dream to go to an Olympic games."

Farah lines up against Ethiopia's Olympic and world 10,000m gold medallist Kenenisa Bekele, who is planning to attack the world record.

Phillips Idowu returns to the National Indoor Arena, where he won the European Indoor Championships triple jump title last year.

"I have good memories of the NIA now," said the Commonwealth champion. "I went into the European Indoors without any form really and I think it was a bit of a surprise to many people that I pulled that jump out."

The Hackney-based jumper added: "I feel like I am in better shape than I was last year, which is good in that it's an Olympic year.

"So far, I have had two competitions and two jumps over 17 metres, so it bodes well for the rest of the indoor season.

"But my season's best of 17.24m is not an indication of the shape I am in, I feel like I am in much better form than that.

Idowu, like Farah, is tired of the publicity being given to Chambers' selection for Valencia.

"I think if there is more focus on British athletes who are competing clean and performing well at major competitions, it will take some focus off drug scandals," he said.

"We have a lot of athletes going into the World Indoor Championships and they are not gaining any headlines."

More news from SportingLife.com