By Jon Wilde, PA Sport

England captain Craig Heap hopes to round off his career with an impressive medal haul at the Commonwealth Games in Manchester.

The 29-year-old from Burnley is one of two northwest gymnasts, along with Middleton's John Smethurst, who are bidding to help the five-man team retain the title they won in Kuala Lumpur four years ago.

Heap achieved a personal best score at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, which he describes as his gymnastics highlight, and now wants a fitting finale to life as a competitor in front of his home crowd.

"I'll almost certainly retire after the Games and it's a good way to bow out," said Heap, a veteran of five World Championships.

"By the end of the Games I'd like to have three more medals - another team gold, one from the individual all-around event and an apparatus medal."

Smethurst added bronze in the floor exercise in Malaysia to the England team triumph and aims to make up for the disappointment of missing out on competing in Sydney because of a wrist injury.

"It's a dream come true for me that the Games are in Manchester," said the 25-year-old.

"I've had the best of both worlds in that I've been to a Commonwealth Games in an exotic place and now they are in my home city. I don't think many people get to experience that.

"If we perform to our best I don't think there is too much for us to be worried about."

England girls coach Zoltan Jordanov admitted only a medal for his team would be acceptable.

"Realistically, we should finish somewhere between first and third," said the Hungarian.

"Anything else would be a disaster."

Hopes of beating the Australians and Canadians are being pinned on 17-year-old Beth Tweddle and the 'baby' of the group, 15-year-old Becky Owen, who could be an Olympic contender at Athens in 2004.