By Ian Gordon, PA Sport

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Australia's Matt Welsh this morning sent out a warning to Ian Thorpe that his attempt at Commonwealth Games history could flounder.

Welsh set the quickest time of the heats of the 100m backstroke, the event which is expected to give fellow countryman Thorpe the most trouble in his bid for seven Games gold medals.

Thorpe, with four golds already in the bag, set the second fastest time of 56.45secs to qualify for tonight's semi-final at the Manchester Aquatics Centre.

Welsh, who missed likely gold in the 200m event after being disqualified in the heats, went quicker in 56.35.

England's Adam Ruckwood was third quickest overall in 56.87 and will be joined in the semis by team-mates Martin Harris, who temporarily quit the sport after failing to make the Olympic team in 2000, and Simon Burnett.

Harris was fifth fastest in 57.06 with Burnett 10th overall (57.79), while 200m silver medallist Gregor Tait was seventh fastest of the qualifiers for Scotland in 57.23.

England's Sarah Price is scenting more medal glory in the 50m backstroke after her Games record breaking victory in the 100m last night.

The 23-year-old Barnet swimmer reached tonight's semis with the fastest time of the heats of 29.31secs to qualify for the semi-finals.

"I felt very positive," said Price. "I didn't look at the clock when I went to bed last night but considering that I felt all right this morning.

"Now bring on the semis. The pressure does not bother me at all, I am just enjoying the experience."

Manchester's James Hickman brought a roar from the crowd as he beat defending champion and Games record holder Geoff Huegill in the final heat of the 100m butterfly.

Hickman, who already has bronze from the 200m event, won in 53.90secs with gold medal favourite Huegill, who grabbed gold in the 50m butterfly last night, second in 54.18.

"I feel good about the 100 metres after a disappointing 200 metres," said Hickman, who was disqualified from the event in Malaysia when expected to challenge for gold.

"I feel it might all go to plan. After being disqualified four years ago I would really like to do well. So far so good."

Beckenham's David Bennett and Liverpool's 200m silver medallist Stephen Parry also qualified, though quickest was Canada's Mike Mintenko in 53.72.

England's trio of 50m breaststrokers will be looking for a clean sweep after powering their way in to the semi-finals.

Darren Mew led the way from James Gibson and Adam Whitehead as they set the three fastest times in the heats.

Manchester's Adrian Turner, who almost died in 1999 after being struck down by an illness that affected his kidneys, qualified for tonight's final of the 400m individual medley.

Turner posted the sixth fastest time overall of 4:23.51 but team-mate Simon Militis, bronze medallist in the 200m backstroke last night, missed out with a time of 4:27.63 as did Scotland's Grant McGregor (4:32.76).