ANTHONY HOWARD hopes to turn bronze into gold on Tuesday when the England 4x100m relay team try to upstage the mighty Australians.

The 22-year-old Egerton swimmer, who won Commonwealth Games bronze in the event four years ago, believes that another medal is a real possibility and it could even be gold.

Howard hits the water in the heats tomorrow morning at the Manchester Aquatics pool and does not have too long to wait with the final in the evening.

The Australians are the dominant force in the Games' swimming events and favourites to take gold in the relay but Howard believes England can give them a run for their money.

"We have got a good team this year," he said. "We are probably looking more at the silver but there is a chance we could go one better.

"Home advantage makes a huge difference as was seen in the World Cup with South Korea.

"Also the Aussie team is not as strong at the moment in the relay and they will be a long way from home. I really believe we could push them. Gold would be fantastic but I'm not too fussy as long as we get a medal."

"Home advantage is a massive advantage too. As a local lad with the crowd behind me, you can't get more geared up for a race than that in your life."

"We will definitely get a medal," he says with supreme confidence. "It's just a case of which colour."

Anthony is proud of his achievement in earning a place in the England team despite not having a coach.

He split with long time coach Dave Evitts last year and has gone it alone since although he has kept his weights coach.

"I knew just how much my body could take and decided to train myself in the water. I am pleased I have done it to a level where I have been picked for the England team and I feel it is a good achievement for me."

It is an even more impressive achievement when it is taken into account that Anthony has had to combine his training with holding down a full time job.

"I had to take a job as a full time energy adviser so I could fund my training for the Commonwealth Games," he explained.

"You shouldn't have to do it but it was a Catch 22 situation. If you work you can't train properly but if you don't work you can't get the money to train properly because there is no funding available.

"It's wrong but there's no point being bitter about it. It wouldn't happen in many other sports but you've just got to accept the reality and get on with it."