Triple-jumper Phillips Idowu is determined to maintain his unbeaten record in this weekend's Aviva London Grand Prix - his final outing before flying off to the Team GB Olympic preparation camp in Macau next week.

Idowu, who is looking forward his third successive Games appearance, believes a fifth straight victory since opening his opening his Olympic build-up in Crete at the beginning of June will be just the tonic he needs before departing for the far east.

The 29-year-old Londoner's confidence has spiralled since winning the world indoor title in March,

and his outdoor form has suggested he can emulate the feat of Jonathan Edwards in 2000 by bringing home the gold medal.

After switching coaches from John Herbert to Aston Moore in the spring, Idowu has regularly cleared 17 metres and finally appears to have shrugged off his past inconsistency.

The 2006 Commonwealth champion needs no reminding he has failed to really match the expectations raised when he reached the 2000 Olympic final.

But after smashing Edwards' UK indoor record with his huge leap of 17.68m to clinch the world crown in Valencia, Idowu now appears on course to finally show his true potential.

"I can't wait for the Aviva London Grand Prix," said Idowu, who has topped this year's world rankings since his win in Chania.

"It's my home-town event so I want to put on a good show there."

Idowu believes he finally has the focus and technique to challenge Edwards' long-standing world record of 18.29m, and realises the importance of Friday's appearance at the south London venue.

"I want to jump well in Crystal Palace.

I really want to head to Beijing with my unbeaten record intact," he said.

"Confidence is so important in this game and I'm feeling really confident this season. I want to head to Beijing feeling good.

"I'm as fit as I've ever been and as happy as I've ever been with my form.

"You don't need to tell me, though, that nothing has been achieved yet this summer."

"All this form will count for nothing if I can't convert that into the gold medal in Beijing."

His chances will be significantly improved by the news that Christian Olsson, who emerged as heir apparent to Edwards as world number one in 2003, will not be defending his Olympic crown.

The 28-year-old Swede has suffered constant injury problems since his 2004 Games success in Athens and hurt himself again in his opening competition of the year in last night's IAAF Super Grand Prix meeting in Stockholm.

"The Olympics is over for me," said Olsson after tearing a thigh muscle to add to his previous hamstring and groin injuries.

Before the setback, Olsson admitted Idowu was likely to be one of his major rivals when they clashed in the 'Bird's Nest' stadium in the Chinese capital next month, and admitted he could step into the shoes of Edwards.

Olsson said: "He has had a project of jumping 18.50m and he has the potential to do it.

"But he has to prove himself to everyone else first."

Idowu admits he is sorry the Scandinavian star will not be a rival in China.

"It is disappointing that Christian hurt himself last night," said Idowu. "I was looking forward to competing against him in Beijing.

"He was the defending champion and I wish him well in his recovery."

Nathan Douglas and Larry Achike, who are also bound for China, will be in action on Friday while former world champion Walter Davis, who missed a place in Team USA by a centimetre, is the best of the overseas opposition.

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