There will be a battle royal in the women’s 100m breaststroke final today with crowd favourite Yuliya Efimova of Russia, who is back competing after serving a 16-month doping ban for taking steroids, going head to head with 18-year-old Olympic champion Ruta Meilutyte.

The Russian was the fastest into the final after clocking 1:05.60 in her semi, but Meilutyte, the world record holder, touched the wall just 0.04secs slower.

Elsewhere, Australia’s Emily Seebohm is on course for her second gold in Kazan.

She was the fastest qualifier into the 100m backstroke final by clocking 58.56secs.

Reigning world and Olympic champion Missy Franklin of the USA was fifth fastest at 0.86 back, having beaten Seebohm into second two years ago in Barcelona.

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China’s long-distance expert Sun Yang had to settle for second in his 200m freestyle semi-final heat behind 15-time world gold medallist Ryan Lochte of the USA as both qualified for their final.

It promises to be a mouth-watering occasion with Germany’s world record-holder Paul Biedermann through as Australia’s Cameron McEvoy and Britain’s James Guy also posted quick times.