By David Martin, PA Sport

The last minute non-appearance of Denise Lewis was a costly blow to Britain's World Championships medal hopes in Edmonton.

This month selectors are earnestly hoping the reigning Olympic heptathlon champion will show-up in Paris - and in condition to steal a medal in what is effectively a comeback year.

Although named in the British team's first wave of selections, Lewis has still to confirm she will take to opportunity to get her career back on track in the Stade de France.

She may have qualified, but fitness and freedom from illness will be the key factor in Lewis making the trip to what would be her fourth World Championships.

Lewis, say her advisory team, is expected to leave her decision to the very last moment before announcing her participation.

The 30-year-old has contested the demanding seven-event programme only once since that balmy night in Sydney three years ago, where she won the first of Britain's two gold medals.

The Midlander only returned to full-time training last November under the eagle-eye of Frank Dick, the former British director of coaching in the heady days of late 1980s and early '90s.

Lewis knew the tough Scot would demand plenty of blood, sweat and tears as she aimed to get herself back into shape both physically and mentally if she wanting to retaining her Olympic crown.

"Her response has been magnificent, no coach could have asked for more from one of his athletes," said Dick after watching Lewis achieve the World Championships qualifying standard in Tallinn at the beginning of July.

Grimacing with physical pain in every discipline, her total score of 6,282 points easily eclipsed the qualifier she needed for the trip to Paris.

There was an added bonus too for Lewis as her outstanding contribution saw the British team promoted from the Spar European Cup Division One back to Super League status.

But despite her resurgent comeback, Lewis knows winning another world medal to add the silvers she claimed in 1997 and two years later will be a daunting task.

Carolina Kluft, last year's European champion who beat her in Tallin, and Eunice Barber, who claimed the gold medal ahead of Lewis four years ago in Seville, are favourites for the event.

Lewis accepts there would be no shame in losing to the in-form Swedish and French stars. However, according to Dick, she does not want to go to Paris and under-achieve.

Dick said: "When we linked-up, Denise always stipulated she wanted to prepare for the 2004 Olympic Games and that has always been the aim.

"Her performance in the European Cup was a positive and delightful first stepping-stone towards Athens. Now she has to be equally convinced the World Championships will be also.

"The decision - and Denise is her own woman, believe me - will be hers and hers alone. A couple of pre-Championship meetings, and I think will see her make-up her mind."