BOXING: As he prepares for one of the most defining moments of his boxing career, Vauxhall ABC star Nick McDonald took time out from his Commonwealth Games build-up to speak to PAUL HASSALL about his hopes and aspirations for the future.

NICK McDonald believes 2006 is the year he will finally fulfil his potential and emerge as one of the world's most feared amateur boxers.

Just last month the 21-year-old bantam-weight's stunning ability saw him secure a record equalling 10th National Title - a triumph that paved the way for his inclusion in the squad chosen to represent Great Britain at the Commonwealth Games in March.

Since then McDonald has been with the squad in Greece as part of the programme of training and acclimatisation for the two-week Games in Melbourne, Australia.

In an attempt to sharpen his competitive instincts he has identified the Four Nations championships at the National Stadium in Dublin this weekend as the perfect event to help bolster his medal bid.

He said: 'I'm going to Dublin expecting to take the gold medal because if I'm serious about winning at the Commonwealth Games then I have to win the Four Nations.

'It's a great opportunity for me to prepare for the Games with a roll of fights and it would be a massive boost for my confidence to win it again.'

The draw for the 4 Nations will take place on Friday, when McDonald could face a tough clash against three-times Irish champion Eric Donovan.

He believes a win over Donovan would be the perfect way to prove his ability to a wider audience and help him to step up and succeed on the international stage.

He said: 'If I was to face Donovan it would be an exciting opportunity to show people what I can do against International opposition. I have a strong faith in my own ability and I think over the next few years I will just get better and better.'

McDonald's previous efforts to propel himself into the world of the boxing elite have been hampered by a recurring hand injury, one that ultimately led to the disappointment of missing out on the chance of glory at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens.

He said: 'Obviously it was a massive blow to miss the Olympics. The hand injury never quite healed and instead of leaving it for the recommended eight weeks of recovery I kept trying to rush back and it resulted in me breaking it three times.

'But I'm fully recovered now and I'm hungry to make up for lost time. Every competition I enter I want to win, starting with the Four Nations this weekend, the Commonwealth Games in March and the Olympic qualifiers in 18 months time.'

McDonald's hunger to increase his medal haul has been backed by his trainer, George Treble, who believes his protegee is on course for what could be a sensational year.

He said: 'Nick has had some big disappointments in the past because of his broken hand. He's missed out on titles he feels he could and should have won.

'But we are looking to the future now and we expect him to claim another Four Nations title next week, before he heads off to Australia for the big one.'