FORMER WORLD-record holder Asafa Powell warmed up for this weekend's mouth-watering 100m clash with Usain Bolt, the world's fastest man, at the National Championships, with an impressive run in Trinidad and Tobago yesterday.

Powell, who has recovered from a strained pectoral muscle, raced to a 9.96 seconds victory in his semi-final at the SAGICOR National Open Track and Field Championships held at the Hasley Crawford Stadium in Port of Spain.

Hometown hero and T&T's fastest man this season at 9.93 seconds, Richard Thompson, was second in Powell's semi-final in 10.11 seconds.

Powell, who was racing for the first time since opening up his season in Australia in February, decided not to run in last night's final.

"That was the plan all along, for him to run one race," Powell's manager Paul Doyle, who is in Trinidad said.

"We just wanted him to get one race in before the trials (Jamaica Championships June 27-29)," he said.

Timid at the start

Doyle said after the race that Powell "feft good about the result, but was a little timid at the start because he had not raced for a long time".

Powell will now turn his attention to Saturday's 100m final against Bolt, who last month broke the former's world record mark of 9.74, with a stunning 9.72 seconds run. Though the two camps have played down the clash, the eyes of the world will be watching the clash between the two fastest men on this planet.