BEN Gamble has identified Scotland international Martin Williams as the main threat to his hopes of winning a third successive Potters 'Arf title.

The 28-year-old, from Stone, says he will have to run the race of his life to beat his Tipton Harriers team-mate – and there is also professional pride at stake.

Gamble will be flying the flag for Staffordshire Police as he goes head-to-head with fellow officer Williams, aged 32, who works for the West Midlands force.

Wolverhampton-born Williams boasts an impressive personal best of 65:39 in the half-marathon, almost two seconds better than Gamble's best of 67:22.

Williams is gearing up to represent Great Britain at next month's European Championships, in Barcelona, in the marathon team event.

And he will fine-tune his preparations by making his Potters 'Arf debut.

"Martin has to be my main rival and he's the favourite by quite a way because he has run sub-66 seconds on a few occasions," said Gamble.

"I've raced against him on occasions, but never beaten him, although this will be the first time we have competed against each other in a half-marathon.

"We've also raced together in relay events for Tipton and it's certainly nice to have him on my team. But I wouldn't be on the start line if I didn't think I could win. It's going to be extremely hard and I'll have to run the race of my life.

"I don't think I'll need to run a personal-best time, though, because the Potters course is very hard."

Williams qualifies to run for Scotland because his mother was born there.

And he is certain to represent his adopted nation at October's Commonwealth Games in Delhi, having twice achieved the marathon qualifying time.

Williams finished eighth in February's Alsager five-mile race in 24:08, while Gamble could only finish 27th in 25:20.

Gamble was also beaten into second place by his nemesis the following month at the Police Sport UK Athletics cross-country event at Pentyrch.

But Gamble comes into the race in fine form on the back of winning his last two half-marathons.

After winning the Stafford Half Marathon in 68:52, he set his personal-best time at last month's Kirkcudbright Academy event.

"I've been proud and privileged to win the Potters 'Arf over the past two years but you're only as good as your last race," added Gamble, who has not given up on his dream of representing England.

"I've been training hard and I don't want to make it easy for Martin because I know how difficult and fantastic it is to win in."

The overwhelming favourite to win the women's race is international road runner Michelle Ross-Cope, who is targeting her second title.

The 38-year-old, from Waterhayes, will also be part of Great Britain's marathon squad at the Euros, and won the 2008 race in a course-record time of 1:15:40, before a knee injury prevented her from competing last year.

But the race to secure the runners-up spot should be fiercely contested as Cheadle runner Rebecca Harrison strives to find the form that led to her back-to-back victories in 2006 and 2007.

Newcastle triathlete Catherine Dullie will also be aiming for more success after winning last month's Stoke 2010K road race.

Fellow Newcastle athlete Michelle Buckle is also in contention a week after winning the Westbridge five-mile race in Stone.

Leeds-based runner Garry Payne (over-50s) is the strong favourite to be the first veteran runner home, having achieved the feat for the past two years.

But Newcastle's Mark Flint (over-40s) will be determined to run him hard after finishing 22nd overall last year.

The top male and female athlete over the finishing line will each earn £350 in prize money, while the best-placed veteran runners receive £100.