Preview of Day 6 at London 2012

Golds up for grabs 18 The big contest cyclng Australia's failures in the pool will make them even more determined to punish the Pommies in the Pringle. A great Olympic rivalry will be reignited when Victoria Pendleton and Jess Varnish take on Anna Meares and Kaarle McCulloch in the women's team sprint. So fierce has been the competition between Pendleton and Meares since 2002 that the Brit was recently asked by an Australian reporter if she thought Meares was "a cow". Bovine banter won't distract the rivals from the threat posed by Teutonic thighs: German pair Miriam Welte and Kristina Vogel smashed Pendleton and Varnish's world record in the spring, beating both Britain and Australia at the track world championships. Women's team sprint, 5.59pm Grudge match Gymnastics The cold war may be a distant memory but the chilly rivalry between US and Russian gymnasts is even frostier since world champion Jordyn Wieber was excluded from the all-around finals because rules only allow two competitors per country. With Wieber's coach hitting out at this "injustice", it will be left to her teammates Aly Raisman and Gabby Douglas (who this week helped America win the team event, its first Olympic gold in women's gymnastics since 1996) to see off the Russians. Women's individual all-around, 4.30pm World record watch If any records are pulverised on Thursday, it will surely be in the velodrome. Both the British and the German pairs in the women's team sprint have set world records this year. The four Brits in the men's team pursuit also set a new world record this year. Men's team pursuit, 4.42pm The Brit to watch Peter Wilson packs a specially made duvet alongside his Perazzi MX2005 High Rib (that's a shotgun to you and me) because he is so tall. The 6ft 6in (198cm) shooter is favourite for gold in the men's double trap final, memorably won in Sydney 12 years ago by his teammate Richard Faulds. The likeable Wilson had to work as a waiter in his local pub after funding was cut for shooters following a dearth of medals in Beijing but saw his prospects transformed when he found himself a new coach Sheikh Ahmed al-Maktoum, a member of Dubai's royal family and double trap gold medallist in Athens. Shooting men's double trap final, 3pm All hail the veterans It may be a bit harsh to call Sir Chris Hoy, 36, (obviously a massive medal hope alongside Jason Kenny in the men's team sprint) a veteran when Hiroshi Hoketsu also competes today. The Japanese rider of horses rather than bikes first competed in the 1964 Tokyo Games, and graces the dressage in Greenwich Park at the aged 71. Hoketsu admits it is tough for an "old man" he hasn't seen his wife for more than a year because of his devotion to training in Germany with his horse, Whisperer. Germany Austrailia and France are their main contenders Individual and team dressage, 11am

ROWING (12:17-12:25): GB men's lightweight four

After a gold and a bronze on the first day of finals at Eton Dorney, the main British hopes on Thursday lie with the men's lightweight four of Richard Chambers, Peter Chambers, Rob Williams and Chris Bartley. Injuries affected the crew earlier this year but they won the last of this season's World Cup races, and their form suggests gold is a real possibility. Olympic champions Denmark are the major threat. Also Womens 8s compete SWIMMING (20:37-20:38): Fran Halsall, women's 100m freestyle

Fran Halsall is Britain's outstanding hope in the sprint final after coming through the semi-finals as the fifth-fastest qualifier. The rivalry between American greats Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte will continue in the men's 200m individual medley final, with Briton James Goddard also involved. Earlier in the day, Rebecca Adlington starts the defence of her 800m freestyle title. At the Aquatics Centre, Michael Phelps has an opportunity to take his record-breaking Olympic medal tally to 20 when he defends his 200m Individual Medley title but fellow American Ryan Lochte will fancy his chances after winning gold over the 400m distance. Lochte also has high hopes of winning a gold medal in the final of the 200m Backstroke. The Netherlands' Ranomi Kromowidjojo, Chinas Yi Tang and Melanie Schlanger of Australia are expected to challenge for medals in the womens 100m Freestyle, while home hopes rest with Fran Halsall. Rebecca Soni will try to defend the womens 200m Breaststroke title she won in Beijing and the 25year-old from New Jersey is a strong favourite to win another gold.

CANOE SLALOM (13:30-16:27): David Florence and Richard Hounslow, men's canoe double

David Florence and Richard Hounslow have been in great form in the C2 this year, while British hopes have been further boosted by the qualification of Tim Baillie and Etienne Scott. The fastest six go through to the final at 13:48. The best bet for a medal might yet be Lizzie Neave, who was second fastest in qualification for the K1. GYMNASTICS (16:30-18:21): Gabby Douglas and Aliya Mustafina, women's all-around

The battle for gold is expected to be a straight fight between the US and Russia. Gabby Douglas deprived 2011 world champion Jordyn Wieber of a place in this final, leaving the latter in tears, and could rival Russia's Aliya Mustafina for the title. Rebecca Tunney, the youngest Team GB member, and team-mate Hannah Whelan also made the final. SHOOTING (09:00-13:30, 15:00-15:40): Peter Wilson and Richard Faulds, men's double trap

Britain's best chance of a shooting medal rests with Olympic debutant Peter Wilson, the world record holder and world number two. Former Olympic champion Richard Faulds is also in action for the hosts as they attempt to qualify for the afternoon final. GB TEAMS IN ACTION

Basketball men v Spain 20:00, Handball men v Argentina 16:15, Hockey women v Belgium 19:00, Volleyball men v Italy 22:00, Water Polo women v Italy 18:20.

Slovakian twins Peter and Pavol Hochschorner compete for an historic fourth consecutive gold medal in the men's Canoe Slalom later today. The action takes place at Lee Valley White Water Centre on what promises to be a thrilling day of competition

Day 6 will also feature the mens Singles Table Tennis final at ExCeL and there will be Shooting gold at stake in the mens Double Trap final at the Royal Artillery Barracks. At the Lee Valley White Water Centre, the final of men's Canoe Double (C2) and the women's Kayak (K1) takes place in the afternoon. Judo medals will be contested in the men's Half-Heavyweight (90-100kg) and the womens HalfHeavyweight (70-78kg), while Olympic champions will also be crowned in womens Team Foil Fencing and womens Individual Archery.