Peter Nicol has won the British Open and a Commonwealth Games gold medal, but it was victory for Scotland in the European Team Championships in 1992 that lingers as one of his proudest moments.

He aims to repeat the victory in Linz, in Austria, this week. Unbelievably, seven years after the shock triumph in France, Scotland are favourites for the championships, starting on Wednesday.

In addition to world No.1 Nicol, the impressive line-up includes world No.5 Martin Heath, who was also in the 1992 side, world No.14 John White, Commonwealth Games doubles medallist Stuart Cowie, plus Surrey-based Neil Frankland.

It is the strongest ever Scotland side, and the championships should provide the platform to prove they will be equally strong contenders at the world championships in Egypt at the end of the year.

''I'm sure that the 1992 victory will never be surpassed,'' said Nicol, who was the hero in Provence when he came through the tournament as an 18-year-old with an unbeaten record.

For White, victory would provide further acceptance of his ''Scottishness''. The Australian-born 25-year-old switched nationality to the country of his father's birth last summer and he has since gone on to win the Scottish championship.

The Scottish women can also boast a line-up capable of at least challenging for a medal for the first time since 1995.

The side is led by national champion Pam Nimmo, who broke through on the world circuit with victory in the Danish Open this season, and backed up by Claire Waddell and the Macfie sisters, Senga and Helen.

ELSPETH BURNSIDE