MARK Lewis Francis is ready to surprise the world again today as Britain seek a golden end to an encouraging World Championships.

Lewis Francis anchored Britain to Olympic relay gold in Athens and is feeling confident about producing a repeat performance.

Britain's safety-first policy secured a 4x100m final place but they'll need to accelerate if they are to complete a rare gold medal collection.

The Olympic and European champions cruised through their heat in 38.33 seconds but finished just behind Brazil, who posted a world-leading time of 38.27 secs.

World record-holder Asafa Powell led home the Jamaican quartet in the second heat ahead of the red-hot favourite USA team, who rested newly crowned 100m/200m champion Tyson Gay.

"We're feeling confident and relaxed and we're ready - no questions," said Lewis Francis. "We might be Olympic champions but this is a new competition and a new team - it counts for nothing when that guns goes off.

"We're going to have an early night and then we'll be back firing in the final. I'm not making any predictions but the team spirit is great.

"We've got to be right on it now. Everything has got to be slick and quick - there is no room for any mistakes."

Britain's fielded their first-choice quartet with Lewis Francis joined by fellow Athens gold medallist Marlon Devonish, Craig Pickering and Christian Malcolm.

The exchanges were safe but hardly fluid, dropping valuable hundredths of a second that would prove costly today.

"We've just had to go out there and get the job done safely," added Lewis Francis. "It's the first time this team has run together so we just wanted to make sure we got the baton around."

Meanwhile, Britain's 400m world champion Christine Ohuruogu will be rested for the heats of the women's 4x400m relay.

Ohuruogu was part of the quartet who won bronze in Helsinki two years ago and she will return if the team, as expected, reach the final.

Silver 400m medallist Nicola Sanders, Lee McConnell, Donna Fraser and 800m specialist Marilyn Okoro are charged with negotiating the heats.

Redcar's Johanna Jackson claimed the threat of disqualification proved costly as she made her major championship debut yesterday.

The 21-year old student received two warnings in the first half of the gruelling 20km walk and finished 25th in a time of one hour 39 minutes and 34 seconds.

"I don't what went wrong, maybe a bit of a lapse in concentration or some fatigue," said Jackson, who was relieved to compete in the coolest day of the championships so far.

"I ended up with two cards before 10km and the second half of the race, where I'd normally push on, I had to be careful because one more and I'd be out.

"I need to get used to competing at this level of competition when the judging is at a higher level.

"This is the toughest judging I've ever been up against."

Jackson was a late call up to Osaka, after impressing judges when taking the 5,000m walk title at last month's Norwich Union UK Championships.

"I've learned a lot just being here, especially about what it takes to prepare to compete at this level," she added.

"I needed this learning step if I want to go to the Olympics.