TOUR de France champion Sir Bradley Wiggins stands in the way of Bendigo's Glenn O'Shea in his bid for a first Commonwealth Games gold medal.
Wiggins will spearhead England's powerful 4000m team pursuit squad when the Commonwealth Games action in Glasgow kicks off Thursday night (AEST).
Wiggins' English squad is expected to meet O'Shea and the Aussies in the final at 2.36am Friday morning (AEST). New Zealand is the only other nation given a chance of toppling Australia and England.
TAB Sportsbet has rated Australia a $1.55 favourite to win the team pursuit gold medal ahead of England at $2.85 and the Kiwis at $9.
O'Shea will lead an Australian squad consisting of Luke Davison, Jack Bobridge, Alex Edmondson and Miles Scotson.
O'Shea, Davison, Edmondson and Scotson were members of the Australian team pursuit squad which defeated Great Britain to win the 2014 World Championships gold medal.
O'Shea and Edmondson also won gold in the same event at the 2013 World Championships.
O'Shea and Bobridge rode for Australia in the team pursuit at the London Olympics where Great Britain defeated Australia in the gold medal race.
Qualifying for the team pursuit starts from 9.10pm Friday night (AEST).
Bendigo's Caitlin Thwaites and Kerang's Julie Corletto start their Commonwealth Games campaign on Thursday night when the Australian netball team faces Wales at 10.30pm (AEST).
The Aussie netballers are $1.60 favourites to win the netball gold medal ahead of arch-rival New Zealand at $2.50, England at $11 and Jamaica at $67.
Australia plays Wales in the opening round of the badminton teams event from 11pm (AEST).
The Australian squad includes Bendigo duo Glenn Warfe and Jeff Tho.