ED McKeever is well aware of the task in front of him this week as he tries to ensure he'll get the chance to defend his Olympic title in Rio later this summer.

The Bradford on Avon paddler knows he faces a two-pronged task to ensure his seat on the plane to Brazil, starting at Nottingham's National Water Sports Centre today and tomorrow.

The Olympic selection trials are the penultimate Great Britain selection chance while McKeever will also have to perform at next month's European Continental Qualification event in Duisburg, Germany, for competitors who have not already booked their Olympic places.

The 2012 K1 200m gold medallist failed to secure his Rio spot when he didn't reach the A final at the Sprint World Championships in Milan last year, prompting him to miss the test event in Rio to concentrate on training for the current season.

McKeever warmed up for the forthcoming crucial period in promising fashion last week, confidently winning is specialist distance at the National Sprint Regatta in Nottingham last weekend.

“I would rather have qualified last year at the Worlds but I mucked up there in not doing so,” he admitted.

“I’ve stayed healthy and got all the training done which is a major thing going forwards.

“Now I’ve got to put on top of that the next block of speed work and I should be ready to go come Duisburg.

“It’s still six weeks until Duisburg, but it’s a good indicator of how the training has gone. Now basically I have to win two races.

"If you want to do well at the Olympic Games then a top two at the European round of qualifiers should be easily within your grasp.''

FOLLOW MCKEEVER'S PROGRESS THIS WEEK AT WILTSHIRETIMES.CO.UK/SPORT AND IN THIS WEEK'S WILTSHIRE TIMES