Burns: 'it'll be a massive fight - and I'm up for it'

"I expect a massive fight on this rally, and I'm up for it. I know that perhaps if it's pouring with rain tomorrow I'm at a bit of a disadvantage, but I then have two days to claw that advantage back.

"I don't believe my back's against the wall or anything like that," the Subaru driver continued. "I don't have any worries about the car. All I have to do is attack every single corner like I did last year, and... make sure I come out the other end of them."

The British driver, three times a winner this year, has not let any distractions interrupt his preparations. "I did a lot of work during Wednesday's shake down runs, and we ended up pretty happy with the car. So there's no reason for me to worry about reliability. I must just get on with the job.

"We had an awful lot of work to do. That was the reason I didn't talk to the press. I just wanted to concentrate on dedicating my time to the most important thing for me -- to try and win the rally. Everything else, I have to say, is second to that."

Burns, second in Finland last year, knows he has a tough task ahead if he is to beat Marcus Gronholm and Tommi Makinen, but he is also aware that he is favourite to become the first non-Finn to win the event since 1992.

Current championship points:
1, Richard Burns (Subaru), 38
2, Marcus Gronholm (Peugeot), 34
3, Colin McRae (Ford), 30
4, Carlos Sainz (Ford), 27
5, Tommi Makinen (Mitsubishi), 23
6, Juha Kankkunen (Subaru), 18
etc