World number one William Fox-Pitt believes Great Britain's eventers must target personal-best performances in the quest for Olympic gold.
The London 2012 eventing competition begins next Saturday morning with opening dressage tests at Greenwich Park.
Fox-Pitt, who will contest his fourth Olympic Games, is no stranger to the intensity and pressure that awaits every London medal contender.
But while the likes of Germany, New Zealand and Australia pose considerable threats to British ambitions in the equestrian programme's first event, post-war Olympic history suggests Fox-Pitt and company will not be far away.
An impressive 17 post-war medals have been collected by British eventers - including five gold - while Fox-Pitt was part of silver and bronze medal-winning teams in 2004 and 2008, respectively.
Britain suffered a major blow earlier this month through 2011 Badminton runner-up Piggy French's withdrawal after both her potential Olympic horses Jakata and DHI Topper W suffered injuries.
But a quintet of Fox-Pitt, Mary King, Tina Cook, Zara Phillips and Nicola Wilson offers considerable podium potential, despite plenty of combinations lying in wait to fill those top three spots.
"Gold would be our dream," Fox-Pitt said.
"I think we have got our work cut out - there are some very good teams out there - but Team GB is fit and well. If we get there in one piece with the best horses we can ride, we've got a good chance. But things have to go our way, off course they have to.
"We need to put in our personal best performances and give the Germans, the Kiwis and the French a run for their money."