Doucoure ended a 29-year wait for France when he clinched his country's first 110m hurdles global title since Guy Drut's gold at the 1976 Montreal Olympics. He has since faded from the scene but will start in Osaka.

With four-time champion Allen Johnson of the United States missing the championships, Cuba's Dayron Robles and American Terrence Trammell are shaping as Liu Xiang's main threats.

But he is currently only running at 80 percent capacity and needs to move up a gear to clinch the title, his long-time coach Sun Haiping said last week.

Liu Xiang has been working on fast starts and acceleration over the initial hurdles in training.

"At present Liu Xiang's form is at 80 percent of best, with the result of about 13.10," Haiping said. "In gearing up for the World Championships we will make some adjustments and Liu Xiang will get better."

"We are going there to bring home the gold medal. We want it very much."

It was in Osaka in 2004 that Liu Xiang set a new Asian record before storming to the Olympic title in Athens, and he has also won the Japan Grand Prix four times running - giving him a 100 percent winning record on the track.

The 110m hurdles final is on August 31.

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