Pippa Funnell - hoping to add Olympic gold to her European title

There is a strong female presence on the short-list - Funnell being joined by European team-mates, Jeanette Brakewell and Kristina Gifford, and two of the old guard, Mary King and Karen Dixon.

Motherhood and injury have kept these two stalwarts of the national squad out of the spotlight for the past few seasons, but victory for King at this year's Badminton with Star Appeal has left the selectors in no doubt of her convincing return to form.

Veteran of three Olympic games, Dixon has been short-listed with the experienced Too Smart, with whom she was the best British placed rider in Atlanta in 1996.

Veteran Ian Stark is set for his fifth Olympics

Lining up for his fifth Olympics is Ian Stark MBE, selected with his 1999 Badminton champion Jaybee and the popular New Zealand-bred Arakai. Leslie Law and Rodney Powell, this year's runner-up and third place at Badminton, complete the picture.

A recent win in the Nations Cup in Aachen will have done much to improve the mood in the British showjumping camp.

Experience, in the form of the Whitaker brothers, John and Michael, combined with the fresh talent of Carl Edwards and Andrew Davies, gave the Brits their first Nations Cup success for three years, beating Olympic favourites Germany into second place, and securing Edwards a team place for Sydney with Bit More Candy.

The country's most famous show jumper, John Whitaker, nearly had his hopes of competing at this year's games dashed with the death of his top horse Virtual Village Heyman.

But brother Michael stepped into the breach, offering him the ride on his stallion Calvaro FCS.

Rodney Powell competing on Flintstone IV at Badminton

They are joined by the popular duo of Geoff Billington and It's Otto - best of the Atlanta squad but with mixed form since - with Tim Stockdale and Di Lampard as travelling reserves.

Britain's dressage hopes are headed by Richard Davison, a consistent team member for five seasons with Hiscox Askari, including Atlanta in 1996.

Alongside Davison are Carl Hester, Emile Faurie and Kirsty Mepham, with Peter Storr as reserve.