SHELLEY Rudman is confident she has done everything she can to prepare for her third assault at Olympic gold, ahead of the start of the women's skeleton event tomorrow.

The Pewsey slider was ranked eighth and third in today's final practice sessions at the Sanki Sliding Centre in Russia, although not all the sliders competed ahead of the start of the competition proper.

Compatriot and World Cup champion Lizzy Yarnold was once again fastest in her fifth and final official training run, finishing 0.44 seconds clear of second-fastest Anja Huber of Germany, before electing not to take part in the sixth and final heat.

"I feel like it has taken a lot to get to this point to be here in Sochi, I know I couldn't have done anymore,'' 2006 silver medallist Rudman said after her two runs today.

"I've been trying to get to grips with the two uphill curves, so I will do a lot of analysis again tonight and then tomorrow what will be, will be."

Yarnold finished fastest in four of the five official heats in which she was involved, strengthening her status as Great Britain's best bet for a Winter Olympic gold medal in over a quarter of a century.

Yarnold's World Cup rival Noelle Pikus-Pace once again elected not to take part in training on Wednesday, although US team officials stressed her decision was not injury-related.

Rudman and Yarnold will undertake the first two of their four race runs on Thursday, with the competition set to culminate in the final two runs on Friday.

LOG ON TO GAZETTEANDHERALD.CO.UK/SPORT TOMORROW MORNING AND FRIDAY FOR WINTER OLYMPICS LIVE, WITH COVERAGE AND REACTION FROM ALL FOUR RUNS IN THE OLYMPIC WOMEN'S SKELETON EVENT