Iwan Thomas has received an unexpected boost heading into the weekend's Spar European Cup in Florence.

The former Southampton resident, who is now living and training in Loughborough, has been handed the individual 400 metres berth for Great Britain following the withdrawal of Birchfield Harriers' Daniel Caines through illness.

Thomas, a member of the Newham & Essex Beagles club, currently heads the domestic outdoor rankings for 2003 having run 45.94 in Floro, Norway on May 31.

Also in the British party are Portsmouth's Commonwealth 1500m champion Michael East and Team Solent's Melanie Purkiss, who is in both the 4x100m and 4x400m squads.