This might be his first season as a senior athlete but Birch-field Harrier's Julian Thomas is aiming to cause a major upset in British sprinting by qualifying for the European Championships this summer.
The 19-year-old has yet to compete since graduating from the junior ranks at the end of last season and has eschewed running indoors in favour of devoting all of his preparation time to making August's championships in Sweden.
In order to make the Great Britain squad, the Solihull College pupil will not only have to convert his undoubted talent into internationally recognised results, he will also have to defeat at least three of Mark Lewis Francis, Jason Gardener, Christian Malcolm, Marlon Devonish or Chris Lambert.
And although he has next to no pedigree in that sort of class, he is not fazed by the prospect of racing against men with Olympic medals to their name.
"I need to get into the top three to get to Gothenburg but I am confident I can do it," Thomas said. "My attitude is that I am not going to back down from anyone, I know I can beat the boys.
"Once I am on the track with them, my intention is to beat them. All my hard work will go towards the trials and making those championships. If I don't get a spot in the individual events, then hopefully I will still get a relay place.
"I have set my goals very high and if I don't make it, I have to remember it's only my first year and no-one really does that well in their first year. This year is about getting experience and learning the ropes."
Thomas's career was given a boost last November when he was named on the World Class Development Programme by UK Athletics chief Dave Collins.
As a result, Thomas will be given funding by Sport England to run as a senior and his inclusion is tacit recognition that he is considered as one of Britain's finest prospects over 100 metres and 200m for glory at London 2012.
It is a date writ large on his seven-year programme. "That is my main ambition and the goal I will be working towards.
"I still want to make the team for Beijing so that I can get experience of a major championships. If I can make that Beijing team, I can go into 2012 knowing what it's all about," he said.
The programme starts here. Thomas has had to change his attitude to his sport. Although he intends to continue his studies at Birmingham University, he knows life among the elite is not the cosy, cossetted environment of junior athletics.
"My approach is a bit more strong-minded and a lot more professional. I am going to America in April for six weeks and will run in senior collegiate meets over there before heading off to Bermuda and trying to look at the Grand Prix circuit as well.
"I'll also be running some relays with Jason Gardener, Mark Lewis Francis and Chris Lambert so that'll be good development, too."
Thomas has decided to stay in Birmingham and, given the support network that exists around him, will continue to work with his coach Tony Hadley.
And while he had more success as a junior over 200m, winning the silver medal at last year's European Under 23 Championships over the longer sprint, he has decided to focus on both events.
"I am going to do both with equal attention. If my times are quick in the 100m, they are going to be even better in the 200m," he reasoned.
"I have still got my obvious strong point - the last 50m of a 200m race. But if my first 100m is also going to be really, really good then I have got a lot to show the British public."
Especially if he spends his summer holidays in Gothenburg.
