By Anna Thompson BBC Sport at the Winter Olympics

Minichiello and Davies won silver at the 2005 World Championships

Britain's women's bobsleighers start their Winter Olympic medal quest in Cesana on Monday.

Nicola Minichiello and Jackie Davies aim to emulate performance at the World Championship, where they won silver.

It is the second Olympics for the duo and Davies told BBC Sport: "The first time we were at the Olympics we were like kiddies in a sweet shop.

"But we know what to expect this time - we are here to perform. We're knuckling down and are really focused."

If we can perform like we know we can perform we will be there Jackie Davies

During their six training runs the duo have consistently been in the top 10 and driver Minichiello said they were raring to go.

Feature: Jackie Davies profile

"All we can control is our start and our drive and hopefully the final result will get us back up there on the podium and into the medals," she said.

And Davies said their silver at Calgary last March gave them hope of a repeat performance on the big stage.

"The silver medal has given us belief. We've been second in the World Championships so if we can perform like we know we can perform we will be there or thereabouts."

Davies and Minichiello are Britain's sole team in the women's event, but they are not the only Britons in action.