British number one 400 metres runner Martyn Rooney will race against double-amputee Oscar Pistorius over the distance at the Notturna di Milano meeting next Wednesday.

Rooney will come up against the 'Blade Runner' who will be contesting his first race against able-bodied athletes since being cleared to do so last month by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

The South African won his appeal against an International Association of Athletics Federations ruling that his prosthetic legs offered a mechanical advantage.

The CAS finding was immediately accepted by the IAAF who agreed he should be allowed to compete immediately in his bid to chase a qualifying time for the fast approaching Olympic Games.

Rooney, despite the fact 21-year-old Pistorious is an accomplished 400m runner, should hold too many cards when they clash at the Italian venue.

The world junior bronze medallist showed his class, running a 44.17seconds split when elevating the Norwich Union GB team from near the back of the field to second at the European Cup on Sunday.

The previous day the 21-year-old Loughborough-based Rooney also scored maximum points for the team in

the 400m individual race - a valuable contribution as it won the Bruo Zauli trophy for a fifth time.

World 400m silver medallist Nicola Sanders, after her brilliant individual success in Annecy, is back in action while Emma Ania contests the 100m and Jemma Simpson the 800.

World University Games gold medallist Simeon Williamson is in the 100m, Sam Ellis and Michael Rimmer over 800m while Andy Turner races in the 110m hurdles.

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