Idowu has a personal best of 17.68m

Idowu became the first Briton to beat Edwards in five years when he won in Sheffield last year.

And another victory over the Olympic champion would be a major boost ahead of August's World Championships in Paris.

"The aim is to become British number one early on in the season and then hold onto it and keep Jonathan under control," said Idowu.

"I want Jonathan to start losing to me regularly in the same way that he loses to Christian Olsson - if I do that then maybe more people will be looking at me instead of those two."

It would be great to get one over him up in Gateshead Philips Idowu

Idowu admitted he felt frustrated by the constant comparisons with the world record holder.

"I do get fed up though of people always asking me what it is like to beat Jonathan," he said.

"I have to beat all the top guys to be number one. Jonathan is just one of them. It is not my sole aim in life to beat Jonathan Edwards.

"That said, he very nearly beat me on my own patch at Crystal Palace last year so it would be great to get one over him up in Gateshead."

Tickets for the Norwich Union Super League at Gateshead (Sunday 13 July) are available by phone on 0870 444 4440 or online at www.ukathletics.net.