As the opening of the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow rapidly approaches, the proud sporting nation of Scotland appears to be looking to its athletes to give the country a boost akin to London 2012. Which athletes should they be looking to for success, as they seek to surpass the previous record haul of 33 medals from the last time they hosted the Games in 1986?
Eilidh Child for one seems to have adopted the Jess Ennis poster girl image from the London Olympics. Where Ennis thrived on the home support to give England (and Team GB) a much needed feel good factor, can Child do similar on the running track in her home country?
Her early season form looks promising and she is rounding into shape after an impressive Diamond League victory over the 400 metres hurdles in Glasgow only last week. A win would be timely, as it is 20 years since Yvonne Murray's win in Victoria in 1994 marked the last Scottish female track gold medallist on the track. The Jamaicans look likely to push her hard though. Laura Muir will have hopes of success over the middle distance, having recently climbed to fifth in the all-time UK rankings over the 1500m and claimed the Scottish record from past heroine on the track, Yvonne Murray, that dated back to 1987. Libby Clegg has won silver medals at the women's T12 100m in both Beijing and London Olympics, so must have a great chance for more success in Glasgow.
Could Eilish McColgan, daughter of and coached by her mother, track legend Liz, achieve further success on the track in the steeplechase? Now seemingly over the irregular heartbeat problem that left her hospitalised earlier in the year, she looks forward to the event with renewed hope after becoming British champion only last month.
She has some large boots to fill though given her mother's achievements and record of two Commonwealth golds in earlier Games, but won't lack for pertinent advice from her mother nor her father, Peter, a steeplechaser of some note during his own Athletics career. The Games may have come a little early to be at her absolute best, but home support could spur her on to greater things.
In the swimming pool, Glasgow born Michael Jamieson should have a great chance in the breastroke, after his British record breaking exploits and ultimate silver medal at London 2012. He should be ably supported by Hannah ("Smiley") Miley, returning to the Games after winning gold in the pool in the 2010 event.
Cycling hopes will of course be diminished by the retirement of Sir Chris Hoy. After London 2012, there had been hopes that he might defer retirement after one last swansong at Glasgow, but he took the decision to call it a day. However, other stars with a proven pedigree such as Katie Archibald and Aileen McGlynn will seek to take up his mantle.
Olympic bronze medallist, Dan Purvis, will be looking to further cement his place in gymnastic history by medalling at the Games.
The Commonwealth Games offers a chance to showcase a number of sports that viewers may not be as accustomed to, but no less deserving of their place in the limelight. One such discipline would be Bowls, where Paul Foster may offer hopes of a medal for the hosts. His four indoor world titles are testament to his ability and he has previous Games success in the pairs in Melbourne in 2006.
Similarly, the Games offers the opportunity for Jennifer McIntosh in the shooting to back up her amazing success of three medals in Delhi and get over the disappointment in the London Olympics. She, like McColgan, will not be short of expert advice should she need it from her father, who has also competed in the Commonwealth Games. Whoever succeeds, the spirit of the Games will no doubt be as enduring as ever over the 11 days of competition across 17 sports, when it begins with the opening ceremony on July 23rd.
