Australia and Japan set to clash in opening goalball fixture

"I don't feel the pressure, and I really love the atmosphere.”

Australia face Japan in the opening game on the second day (Friday) of goalball action in the Copperbox.

The game is the second match from group C in the women’s competition, which saw the favourites China and the USA both get off to winning starts on Thursday evening.

It is the first time that Australia have had a women’s team feature in the goalball competition since they hosted the Sydney 2000 Paralympics.

Attention will then turn back to the men’s competition with Lithuania facing Finland in group A.

The Lithuanians made an impressive start, thrashing Team GB 11-1 in front of a large home crowd and they will be keen to follow that up with victory over Finland.

In contrast Finland were narrowly beaten by Brazil in their opening fixture. From being 5-1 down they managed to draw back to level terms, before succumbing to a late winner.

Team GB then take to the court hoping to erase the heavy defeat to Lithuania from their memory. David Knott said that the British team would “come back stronger” after suffering that loss and the home crowd will be fully behind them once again.

They will be up against Turkey, who will be full of confidence on the back of their win over Beijing 2008 bronze medallists Sweden. Turkey ran out comfortable 9-2 winners after some poor defending from Sweden.

In the final game from group A Brazil face Sweden, who will be eager to make amends for their poor defensive display against Turkey.

Great Britain’s women come up against Finland in group C, who Anna Sharkey described as their ‘nemesis’ after Team GB’s defeat to world champions China on Thursday night.

Although the result didn’t go the way of the home nation on the opening day, Sharkey still enjoyed the atmosphere in the Copperbox. “I'm loving it," she said. "I don't feel the pressure, and I really love the atmosphere.”

Brazil then face China. Both teams will be looking to make it two wins out of two on the back of wins against Denmark and Great Britain respectively.

Attention will then focus back on the men’s competition with a full round of second match fixtures from group B.

Defending Paralympic champions China will play Korea in the first match of the evening session as they look to record their first win after being beaten 9-5 by Iran in the stand out match from Thursday.

Iran will be hoping Seyed Mehdi Sayahi can repeat his nine goal heroic display against China when they come up against Canada.

Algeria and Belgium will be on court for the final match of the day. The two teams got off to mixed starts - Algeria narrowly loosing 4-3 to Korea and Belgium beating Canada 4-2. The game will be a close contest with Algeria looking to get their first win on the board.