By Mark Staniforth, PA Sport

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Silver will be no consolation to the five English boxers who chase Commonwealth Games glory at the MEN Arena today.

Darran Langley, Darren Barker, Paul Smith, Steven Birch and David Dolan are all just one win away from following in the path of illustrious names like Lennox Lewis and Barry McGuigan and standing on top of the podium.

And their coach Ian Irwin has told them they cannot be satisfied with anything but gold.

Irwin's team have got a total of seven medals in the bag and wins for all five remaining fighters today would eclipse the four golds the team won in Kuala Lumpur four years ago.

Irwin said: "I have told them they have got to go for gold. They would be disappointed if I said anything else.

"I believe all of them are capable of winning. They have all been learning fast and they deserve it."

Light-flyweight Langley kicks off England's gold bid with his final against Indian Ali Qamar.

Light-welterweight Barker - who benefited from a walkover in his semi-final - faces Ugandan Mohammed Kayongo.

Liverpool's Smith has a tough task against accomplished Canadian Jean Pascal at light-middle and middleweight Birch takes on Australian Paul Miller.

Super-heavy Dolan rounds things off with a bout against Canadian David Cadieux - while Welshman Jamie Arthur gets his chance at lightweight against excellent Zambian Dennis Zimba.

Irwin said the team spirit and in particular the leadership of captain Steven Bell - who was knocked out in the quarter-finals - has had a great bearing on a successful squad performance.

Irwin said: "The team spirit has been as good if not better than any squad I have ever been involved with since I became national coach.

"They have had to learn to live together and train together and cheer for each other.

"Steven Bell has been the best captain I have ever had and he has been an inspiration not only to the other fighters but to the whole support staff."

Irwin's prediction of eight medals might well have come true had heavyweight David Haye not been forced to pull out with an arm injury.

After semi-final defeats for Mark Moran and Andy Morris meant that they claimed bronze, England will finish only one away from their initial target with a squad which is not as experienced as Irwin had initially intended.

He added: "Eight medals was a target I set when we wrote the plan towards the end of 2000 and since then half a dozen of our best lads have decided to turn professional.

"We have had to look at the youngsters and fast-track them through. There is no substitute for international experience but they have been learning quickly all the time."