By Jim Stokes BBC Sport

Phil Mack hopes to finish the Belfast Marathon

Leicester's Phil Mack is looking to beat the pain barrier when he runs in Monday's Belfast Marathon.

Mack is competing in aid of Tigers prop Matt Hampson who broke his neck in an England U21 training session in March.

However, despite an Achilles tendon injury, fitness coach Mack hopes to finish his first 26.2 mile event.

"I missed London due to injury but if I can show the same strength as Matt at present, then I hope to get through," said the former Ulster assistant coach.

Mack, who Alan Solomons's fitness guru at Ravenhill, has fond memories of Belfast and accepted the challenge thrown down by friends in the province.

However, injury has threatened his chances of competing in the Belfast event which will celebrate its 25th anniversary in 2006. Mack has not had a decent training run for eight weeks.

"To be honest, I'm a little worried about doing two kilometres never mind 40.

"I cannot walk without pain at the moment. But I want so much to give it a go. It's for a very good cause.

"It's not much what I'm doing but every little bit will help the family with support and medical cover.

"I'm not going for a time. If I finish it, it will be a big thing for me. If I can get some money out of it, I'll be really happy," said Mack a triathlon competitor of some note and someone who can normally do a sub-40 10K.

When he arrived in the province in 2001, Mack completely changed the work ethic, diet and fitness of the Ulster team.

Born in the Potteries, Mack grew up in Aberdeen and studied physiotherapy and spent time with the Dallas Cowboys.

He lived in Cape Town at the start of the Nineties looking after the Stormers, and progressing to the Springboks.

He moved to the Tigers after a short spell with the ACT Brumbies.