LONDON, England (BBC) – Jamaica’s Asafa Powell will take on countryman and triple Olympic gold medallist Usain Bolt over 100-metre at the London Grand Prix on July 24.

Commonwealth 100-metre champion Powell is unbeaten over the distance at Crystal Palace having run under 10 seconds in his previous three races at the venue.

However, Bolt, who broke the 100-metre and 200-metre world records at the Beijing Olympics, will start as favourite.

American Tyson Gay will only run in the 200-metre at the London event.

But Gay is expected to line up against Bolt and Powell in the 100-metre at the World Championships in Berlin, which start on August 15.

The 26-year-old, who matched his own United States record of 9.77secs to win the 100-metre in Rome last week, said: “The race in London is important for me as a final test for the World Championships.

“I’ve only raced once this season in the 200-metre and I was really happy with that. Another 200-metre fits perfectly into my preparation for Berlin at this time and London will be the place to do that.

“I want to go to Berlin and defend my titles, and I’m happy with my progress this season so far. But we have a way to go.”

Gay, who won gold in the 100-metre, 200-metre and 4×100-metre relay at the World Championships in Osaka two years ago, has competed in the 200-metre only once this year but set the third fastest time ever when he ran 19.58 seconds.

Bolt, who was last beaten on the track by Powell in Stockholm last July, will run in the 100-metre and 4×100-metre relay at Crystal Palace.

The 22-year-old has never previously run a relay in the UK, but he is expecting big things from the London meet, in particular from the relay team, who are sure to threaten the 37.80 seconds set by the US last year, the fastest 100-metre relay time on British shores.

Bolt ran the third leg when the Jamaican team won the Olympic relay gold in Beijing in a record 37.10 and he said: “We have a strong team and already hold the fastest time this year, and hope to go faster in Crystal Palace. It is an important part of preparation for the World Championships.”

The 100-metre relay was one of three gold medals for the all-conquering Bolt at the 2008 Beijing Games.

Coach Glenn Mills has assembled a formidable relay squad, comprised of athletes from the Racers Track Club, all of whom have recorded sub 10-second times.

Jamaica, who are arguably the world’s leading nation in sprinting, will also have highly rated prospect Yohan Blake taking part in the men’s 100-metre. The 19-year-old won World Junior bronze three years ago.

Apart from the men’s 100-metre event, Jamaica will be represented by Olympic 400-metre hurdles champion Melaine Walker and 400-metre Jamaican champion Novlene Williams-Mills.

Williams-Mills will face Britain’s gold and silver medallists from the World Championships two years ago, Christine Ohuruogu and Nicola Sanders.

“I’m looking forward to that race because it’s where a lot of my competitors will be ahead of Berlin,” said Williams-Mills.

“When I walk away from that race in London I want people to be talking about me. I want them to be thinking ‘okay, this is where Williams-Mills is at and in order for me to beat her in Berlin I may have to run a certain time’.

“It will be good for me to run in front of so many Jamaicans as well. I am always happy when they come out to cheer for us because no matter where we are in the world there are always some Jamaicans there.”