Home help for Liu

China's reigning 110m hurdles champion Liu Xiang is hoping that home advantage can help him out as he looks to retain his Olympic title in Beijing.

25-year-old Liu has a huge pressure on his shoulders as the entire nation of China expects him to deliver a home gold in Beijing.

Liu acknowledges that he will be under pressure, but he feels the home crowd that will be packed inside the new Bird's Nest Olympic Stadium will cheer him on to victory.

The task will not be an easy one for the Chinese star, with American David Oliver hot on his heels while Cuban Dayron Robles looks his biggest threat.

21-year-old Robles grabbed Liu's world record off him in July when he clocked 12.88secs to record his third time under 13 seconds this year.

Threat

Liu is ready to take on the younger up-and-coming hurdlers though, and believes running in his own backyard will give him the edge.

"The biggest threat for me are the younger competitors like Robles from Cuba and American (David) Oliver," Liu told Titan Sports Weekly.

"In the last two years these guys have really improved, and Oliver has broken the 13-second barrier."

Liu produced a shock win in Athens four years ago as he became the first-ever Chinese man to win track gold, but now he will be the one everyone will be going after.

The champion knows this, and will be ready to pull out all the stops to retain his title.

"In Athens, I was among the younger hurdlers so I had to fight for a good result.

"At that time I was fighting against others, but this time other hurdlers are aiming at me.

"So I will need a very high level result."

Pressure

"There will be pressure at the Beijing Olympics, but I will have the home field advantage.

"In the end I just have to take it one race at a time and everything should work out."

Liu has not raced in Europe in his build-up to the Olympics, which has been hampered by injury, with his last international race in May resulting in him being disqualified for a false start.