Willis plans to make amends | Canterbury Sport | Surfing, Rugby, Soccer, Football, Cricket in Canterbury

Olympic silver medallist Nick Willis could be forgiven for taking a cautious look at what's happening in the throwing arena when he gets ready for the 800m at the international athletics meeting at Queen Elizabeth II Park tomorrow night.

Crusaders Thomas Waldrom and Daryl Gibson are celebrity competitors in the shot put.

And in a roundabout way, Waldrom can take some credit for Willis' track successes which include winning the 2006 Commonwealth Games 1500m and then silver in the 1500 at the Olympics two years ago.

As a youngster Willis was a promising rugby player until several concussions ended his career. Waldrom inflicted the first.

"I was playing first-five for Hutt Old Boys when I was 10, and he put me out over the sideline," he said.

"But I was the only one brave enough to tackle him!"

The pair were members of the same age group rep athletics teams.

"He was very competitive, he was a national secondary schools champion, and I'm confident he will beat Daryl Gibson!" he said.

Willis, 27, is after the 800-1500m double at this year's Commonwealth Games in Delhi - a feat not achieved by a Kiwi since Peter Snell's half-mile and mile double at Perth in 1962.

With a PB of 1min 45.54sec for the 800, Willis hopes to do a games qualifier of 1:47 tomorrow, but a new PB would require perfect conditions and a good even pace, he said.

He is phlegmatic about the challenges games athletes will face in the heat of India, but does not think the 800-1500 double is impossible.

"I won't give any guarantees, but I wouldn't enter if I did not think I had a good chance," he said.

The 800 training also added a different twist to his training, and kept him sharp and fast for the 1500, he said.

Having the games in October meant a lot of big-name runners on the money GP circuit would have to hold their peak for a long time, he pointed out.

As for the games, India had a billion people and a lot of resources behind the event, and it was important for the country to put on a big show, he said. It was also a huge opportunity for athletes to promote their sport to a huge audience.

Willis missed last year's Christchurch international meeting because of injury, and will line up in the classiest 800 field seen in New Zealand since the 1990 Commonwealth Games, with four with PBs under 1:46.

The Kiwi is seeking revenge on top Australian middle distance runners Jeff Riseley (who won the mile here last year when Willis could not front) and Jeremy Roff. Willis was surprisingly outsprinted when the pair claimed the scalps of him and Kenyan Olympic gold medallist Asbel Kiprop in the Melbourne GP 1500 this month.

Willis admits he was not happy to be passed and have a couple of Aussies putting one over a Kiwi, and aims to turn the tables here.