CHRISTIAN Malcolm spearheads the Wales team as the athletics season kicks-off in earnest this weekend with the Commonwealth Games and European Championships on the horizon.

Malcolm is in a star-studded Welsh line-up for the Aqua Pura International at Loughborough University on Saturday.

And he will be facing a couple of his big British rivals in the competition, namely sprint stars Mark Lewis-Francis and Olympic 200m silver medalist Darren Campbell, both representing England.

With the Manchester event just two months away, what is normally a low-key competiton has taken on greater importance.

Wales take on England, Scotland, GB Juniors, British Universities and Loughborough University in the first televised event of the season. Malcolm is joined by training partner Tim Benjamin in the side, with Benjamin taking part in the 400m.

Benjamin, last years European Junior 400m champion, will be out to impress the selectors and look to gain a slot in the individual event in Manchester.

But he can except stern opposition for that Games place from fellow Welsh 400m specialists Iwan Thomas and Jamie Baulch. Rhys Williams, the 18-year-old from Bridgend, will win his first senior outdoor vest and will take on Britain's finest in the 400m hurdles. Williams has already shown early season form when he ran a personal best of 48.3 seconds for 400m flat at Cheltenham.

Heading the field event challenge for the men will the Welsh triple jump record holder from Cardiff Steve Shalders. This year he has shown some fine sprinting form by winning the British Universities titles at 60m and 100m. In addition to Shalders, the Welsh high jump record holder Rob Mitchell (Shaftsbury) will compete.

Making a return to the sport is the former javelin specialist from Belgrave Nigel Bevan. Emma Davies, the former AAA 800m indoor champion, will be competing and is now coached by the former Olympic 800m silver medallist Peter Elliott.

Wales hand a first senior outdoor vest to 17-year-old Faye Harding from Wrexham she will run in the 400m hurdles.

Such is the calibre and potential of this young lady she ranked eighth in the United Kingdom last season as a 17-year-old.

Wales teams. Men: 100m - Kevin Williams; 200m - Christian Malcolm; 400m - Tim Benjamin; 800m - Matt Shone; 1500m - Christian Stephenson; 110m hurdles - Paul Gray; 400m hurdles - Rhys Williams; 3,000m steeplechase - Don Naylor; 4x100m relay - Doug Turner, Malcolm, Dominic Papura, Steve Shalders, Jamie Henthorn; 4x400m relay - Jamie Baulch, Carl McEwan, Matt Elias, Rhys Williams, James Nasrat, Matt Shone; Shot - Andrew Turner; Hammer - Graham Holder; Discus - Lee Newman; Javelin - Nigel Bevan; Triple Jump - Steven Shalders; Long Jump - Paul Jones; High Jump - Rob Mitchell; Pole Vault - Andrew Penk.

Women: 100m - Anghard James; 200m - Anghard James; 400m - Cath Sage; 800m -Emma Davies; 1500m - Rachel Newcombe; 110m hurdles - Rachel King; 400m hurdles - Faye Harding; Steeplechase - Sian Pritchard; 4x100m relay - James, Sarah Lane, King, Rebecca Jones, Harding, Lowri Jones; 4x400m relay - Dawn Higgins, Sage, Davies, Harding, Donna Porazinski, Louise Whitehead; Shot - Phillipa Rowles; Hammer - Lesley Brannan; Discus - Phillipa Rowles; Javelin - Charlotte Rees; Triple Jump - Sally Peake; Long Jump - Emma Hughes; High Jump - Rebbeca Jones; Pole Vault - Anna Leyshon.