DISMISS the threat of University of Stirling’s Ross Murdoch at your peril is the message from four-time Olympic medalist Rebecca Adlington ahead of the countdown to this summer’s Olympic Games in Rio.

Murdoch caught the headlines two years ago when he beat Olympic silver medalist and Scottish teammate Michael Jamieson on the way to 200m breaststroke gold at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

But he found himself somewhat in the shade last year as, despite winning 100m breaststroke bronze and 4x100m mixed medley relay gold at the World Championships, he was trumped by Britain’s breaststroke man of the moment Adam Peaty.

The latter picked up three World titles in Kazan – one alongside Murdoch in the mixed medley relay and then in the 50m and 100m breaststroke – and can also boast having three world records to his name.

They are both set to go head-to-head at the British Swimming Championships in Glasgow next month – which also double up as Olympic trials for Rio.

But Adlington believes the rivalry will only serve to drive Murdoch on, with the Scottish swimmer’s specialty also laying in the longer 200m format as opposed to Peaty’s shorter sprint focus.

Adlington said: “I think Ross Murdoch is very much a dark horse that everyone should stand up and take note of. He’s an incredibly grounded guy. He works hard as well. Obviously his main event is the 200m breaststroke, so I think personally Ross is hungrier for that 200m success, especially after the Commonwealth Games, where he had the shock and surprise of beating Michael Jamieson.

“It doesn’t mean to say he won’t take the 100m seriously, but I think the one that means the most to Ross is that 200m and he’ll be focused on that. I think with the British team, they’re supporting each other so much. That’s what’s made a difference. I think it’s just instilled this belief that ‘Well if he can, why can’t I?’

“It’s not a case of ‘I want one up one my mate, it’s a case of ‘he’s nothing different to me, we’re made exactly the same way, we’re exactly the same human beings in that sense, so why can’t I?’”

Adlington was speaking back at the London Aquatics Centre, four years on from her 2012 Olympic heroics as she looks ahead to this summer’s European Championships at the same venue.

The European Championships will be the last major event before the Rio Olympics and Adlington fully expects Murdoch and her fellow Brits to lay down a marker ahead of the party in Brazil.

The European Championships have not been held in the UK since 1993 and have not been held in London since 1938.

She added: “The British swimming team are looking absolutely incredible at the moment. They’ve had a fantastic couple of years, from the Commonwealth Games to the World Championships in Kazan last year they absolutely smashed it.

“This summer it’s nice because they’ve got their trials where they qualify for the Olympics next month, which is really good.

“Then we’ve got the European Championships in London in May where they’ll get to size up the whole of Europe and just see where everyone’s at, see what everyone’s feeling and thinking ‘Oh yeah, I’m going to rule him out of the Olympics.’

“That’s great, but I also think we’re in the perfect opportunity to win lots of medals at the Europeans as well because the team has got so much depth now, I think that’s the difference.

“I think a lot of those guys that were making finals in London will want to get on that podium at Rio. I think some of the younger guys that didn’t get to experience a home Olympics have got a fantastic opportunity now to race here at the Europeans, get that experience so they’re not being thrown in at the deep end going into an Olympic Games with 17,000 people."

Tickets for the European Aquatics Championships – the biggest event to be held at the London Aquatics Centre since the 2012 Olympic and Paralympics Games – from May 9-22 are now available here: www.euroaquatics2016.london