British Olympic team chief Andy Hunt believes Australia may well be planning to "rain on the Poms' parade" at next year's London Olympic Games.

Britain beat Australia to fourth place in the medal table at Beijing in 2008 and maintaining that position is a target for the British Olympic Association (BOA).

Hunt, the BOA chief executive, is expecting a lively challenge from old rivals Australia, saying: "We had some local intelligence from down Sydney way which said the Australian Olympic Committee were planning this campaign called 'rain on the Poms' parade'.

"We don't know if it's true but it has provided some light entertainment and I think it's good.

"We have fantastic relationships with the Aussies and they are a national Olympic committee we are very close to.

"I think the competitive banter we have between us and the competitive is absolutely brilliant, it makes the Games."

He added: "We have to recognise that maintaining that fourth place in the medal table is going to be very, very tough.

"The difference between fourth, fifth and sixth place could be one or two medals, but I really do believe we will deliver more medals from more sports."

In May at the Annual General Meeting AOC President John Coates spoke of 'The Battle of London' and the Australian Teams goal is to place amongst the top five nations on the overall and gold medal tallies in 2012 with more than 14 disciplines winning medals. Coates put pressure back on the member sporting federations to provide their athletes with the best possible preparation to deliver the medals, after heavy lobbying from the AOC had delivered increased funding from the Government.

Australia will once again rely heavily on medals in swimming with the upcoming World Championships in Shanghai a key indicator. The true battle between Team GB and the 2012 Australian Olympic Team will happen in the velodrome, at the rowing and at the sailing. This is likely to be where the 'Battle of London' is won or lost.

AOC and AFP