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Greg Rutherford has been promising he was saving his best for when it mattered - now finally someone might believe him.

Rutherford has endured a torrid time since his breakthrough long jump silver at the European Championships in Gothenburg three years ago (pictured).

Injuries and loss of form have conspired against him but tonight he jumped further than ever before to break the British record and book his place in Saturday's World Athletics Championships final.

Rutherford recorded a leap of 8.30 metres with his first attempt, propelling himself into the world's top ten and advancing to the final as the second best qualifier.

It was a brilliant performance considering he has only broken the eight-metre barrier twice this year, hardly form to worry the world's best.

"I half expected it if I'm honest, I've been jumping really well in recent weeks and I knew if I could nail my take-off then I could do something pretty special," he said.

"I've been aiming for the British record for years and after the jump I looked at the scoreboard and couldn't quite believe my eyes."

World number one Dwight Phillips looked the most impressive qualifier while Olympic champion Irving Saladino will also be one to watch.

And Rutherford is under no illusions he'll have to do it all again to challenge for a medal when it matters.

"It would be pretty disappointing to break the British record to reach the final and then not perform in the final," he added.

"It's going to take another jump like that to get among the medals because it is going to be a quality final.

"I have to keep my game head on. Last year I made it through to the Olympics final in the early rounds and I wasn't focused by the time I got there, but that won't happen again."

Meanwhile, Chris Tomlinson, the now former British record holder and Rutherford's training partner, has vowed to get his revenge in the final.

"It felt strangely great to see Greg go out to 8.30m and it really gave me a boost," said Tomlinson, who is looking to add an outdoor world medal to the indoor silver he won in Valencia last year.

"I knew he was capable of jumping like that but I want that record back pretty soon - hopefully in the final."

Tomlinson and Rutherford have become close since the latter quit his north-east training base to move to London, where he lives with wife and West End actress Lucia Rovardi.

Together they share coach Frank Attoh and it's an arrangement Tomlinson believes is slowly starting to pay dividends.

"I'll look at some things on the video and there is some stuff to work on because I know a really big jump is in there," he added.

"I've got 48 hours to prepare and get ready. I've qualified at that is what it's all about.

"I just need to work out how I can get out to 8.40m - I'm really consistent around the eight-metre mark but I need to get my distance up a bit more.

"It's nice to be consistent and three eight metre jumps shows my form.

"But I need a real big distance. I know I'm one of top ten long jumpers in the world and I've proved that here but now it's all about going longer.

"I'm just going to go for it and if it comes off, it comes off. There is no point playing it safe in the final."

More than the Games / Eurosport