NIALL BRUTON was yesterday faced with a daunting task after the draw had put him in the more difficult of today's semi-finals, of the 1500 metres championship.

Bruton, striving to deliver on a reputation as one of Ireland's more talented, if erratic, athletes, expressed the hope on his arrival here that the presence of so man big names of miling, would extract a corresponding response from him.

The make up of today's field gives him the chance to test the theory for among those lining up with him will be Noureddine Morceli, the world, record, holder, and Spain's Fermin Cacho, who is defending the title.

Also there are Abdi Bile, a former, world champion, Laban Rotich one of the heat winners and his even more experienced Kenyan team mate, William Tanui.

Between them, they should secure the five automatic qualifying places on otter, leaving Bruton to scramble for a passage to the final as one of the two fastest losers. He still managed to sound reasonably upbeat, however, after being.

"After being drawn in the fastest heat on Monday, I could have done with an easier race than this but when you get 10 the semi finals of an Olympic championship, you don't expect any favours," he said.

Athletes like Morceli are in a different class to others but it I run to my best form, I am certainly capable of getting into the top three.

My first run here was encouraging in the sense that I was strong enough and quick enough to go with the pace when it mattered and I think I can build on it now."

Shane Healy, one of the bigger successes in Irish athletics this season, must legislate, for the presence of such as Hitcham El Guerrouj, emerging more and more here as a threat to Moreeli's hopes of gold, Stephen Kipkorir, Ali Hakimi and Holland's Marko Koers in the second race.

Healy just got through a one of the fastest losers in the prelimaries but, no less than Bruton, he is hopeful that the of the company can inspire him now.

"It's a race in which I have everything to gain, and I aim to make the best of it" he said. "Some will say that it's the easier of the two semis but, there are still no slow coaches in it.

"The pace in the middle of the race is likely to be quicker than on Monday but my race plan will be to stay with the leaders for as long as I can and get myself into a position where I can challenge of the last bend."