Competitors in an individual event they may be, but British long jumping legend Lynn Davies believes Nathan Morgan and Chris Tomlinson have what it takes to succeed - each other.

The Welshman, whose 8.26 metres British record stood for 34 years before Tomlinson broke it by one centimetre, is adamant that the presence of two such closely-matched rivals can spur both men on to European glory later this season.

Morgan and Tomlinson have jostled at the top of the sport for the past four years and, after both men experienced an injury-plagued 2005, are set to renew their battle in the Norwich Union Grand Prix at the National Indoor Arena this Saturday.

And Davies, who flew the flag for British long-jumping on his own for most of his career, feels that the presence of their main challenger for the national crown could be the biggest motivation possible.

"The aim of every event in Britain is to have two athletes like that who are truly world-class," said Davies. "I didn't have anyone from Britain like that. I was ranked top ten in the world for five or six years and was way ahead of anybody in Britain, but I would have welcomed someone like that to spur me on.

"It really helps in the country if you can have strength in depth, that's the whole key in sport where the very best are being pushed by youngsters by coming through.

"That's the aim of UK Athletics. Once you have that top ten, you stand a chance of bringing the best out to the top competitors."

Both Teesside-based Tomlinson and Midlander Morgan, of Birchfield Harriers, fall into the category of unful-filled potential. The former equalled Davies' mark in 2003 but has been hampered by foot and back troubles ever since.

Tomlinson, meanwhile, barely competed last season. He was prevented from going to the European Indoor Championships last spring with an ankle injury and then a broken toe and a hernia operation stopped him preparing properly for the summer's World Championships in Finland. They need 2006 to be a big year.

Davies is sure it can be. "I saw Nathan jump in Glasgow last month and he looked really sorted. I think he's going to have a good season," he said in reference to the 27-year-old's impressive opening salvo of 8.05m at Kelvin Hall.

Tomlinson is yet to compete this year. In fact, it could be argued he hasn't really done much since 2002 when he broke the national record and then went on to win the European Cup later that summer. Fifth place in the Athens Olympics - just 8cms off bronze - was the last time he registered on the global scene.

That made the decision by Dave Collins, UK Athletics' performance director, to retain both men in his World Class Performance squad, with all the concomitant funding ramifications, something of a leap of faith.

A justifiable one, though. "Hopefully, they can lead us back into world-class long-jumping," said Davies.

"They are not the best in the world but they are in the top ten, so every competition they go into like the Worlds or the Europeans they stand a very good chance of making the final. If these guys progress and continue, they could be in the Olympic frame, certainly in Beijing in 2008 and in London in 2012."

Being in the frame and winning are two different things, however. With personal bests below 8.30m, they need to find at least another 15 or 20cms to challenge for a regular place on the podium.

Unless Saturday's event in Birmingham produces a massive improvement as well as the 8.10m qualifying distance, they are not considered challengers for a medal at the World Indoors next month.

"They are currently good enough to win a European level but, at world level, they are going to have to get up to between 8.40m and 8.50m. At the moment, they are about 20cm off that," Davies said.

"It's not easy to get that extra distance. It depends on working with a good coach, accessing the sports science help that is available and using the medical services for which they get funding."

Even then, they would have to overhaul the all-powerful Dwight Phillips, the reigning world and Olympic champion who will also be in Birmingham this weekend.

The American, whose personal best is 8.60m, is a redhot favourite to defend his world indoor title in Moscow. In fact he is so far ahead of the field that some are already willing to crown him 2008 Olympic champion. Not Davies.

"Phillips will be the man to beat in Beijing, that's who Nathan and Chris have got to be aiming at but they have got to be getting to 8.40 or 8.50m," he said.

"Phillips is not winning by 40-50cms so he is attainable and he's not getting any younger. He has won quite a few titles it depends how long he wants to go on.

"Anything could happen to him in the next few years. He could get injured, lose motivation and Chris Tomlinson and Nathan Morgan have everything to go for - it's so unpredictable." We await with anticipation this weekend's first instalment.