Scotland’s Hannah Miley, silver medallist at the 400m medley world title in Manchester this year, will be one of Britain’s main medal contenders at the European short-course Championships in Rijeka in Croatia from December 11-14. 

Robbie Renwick, Kris Gilchrist, Todd Cooper and Lewis Smith are the other Scots in the British team that has already started to look ahead to the 2012 Olympic Games in London. 

The Championships provide newly appointed British Swimming Head Coach Dennis Pursley with his first opportunity to lead a British team into a major international arena.

"My immediate aim is to start the process of instilling the philosophy and focus towards 2012 and beyond," said Pursley. "We'll be looking to the future development and not just at the event in itself.”

The team comprises a mix of youth and experience, with Miley, Gilchrist, Cooper and Renwick among those who competed at the Olympics in Beijing in August.  Smith, 20, is one of the newer crop. 

"I expect the swimmers to be in different stages of their preparation, especially in an Olympic year, so the end result won't necessarily be the main focus," continued Pursley.

"It is the first time I've worked with a lot of these swimmers and it's something I'm looking forward to. It will be a good opportunity for me to observe them as individuals and also have a look at potential relay teams."