WARRINGTON Sports Personality of the Year John Nicholls is determined to land one of the biggest victories of his career in Finland today, Thursday - but he is again likely to postpone retirement plans.

Shot putter Nicholls is going for gold at the European Veteran Indoor Championships in Helsinki today.

Nothing other than a first international gold medal will be acceptable for the 41-year-old in the over 40s category in Finland, having bagged silver in the European Veterans Championships and World Masters Indoor Championships last year.

And, with none of the competitors that beat him on the international stage in 2006 competing, he feels confident about his chances.

Nicholls, of Stockton Heath, said: "I've seen the field and my will to win has not been disheartened, shall we say.

"I'm going there to win or get thrashed. What I don't want to do is finish second again and have unfinished business.

"Since winning the Warrington Sports Personality award I've made my intentions clear about wanting gold and there's a big fall if I don't do it, but you've got to aim high to do well.

"I'm always wary of the home nation but I don't want to let a Finn beat me in Finland.

"I'll be as physically and mentally prepared as I can be, so there's no excuses."

Nicholls is targeting a 15-metre throw to secure gold and has recovered from an elbow injury - sustained while winning the British Masters Indoor Championships three weeks ago - with the aid of his physio, Phil McKenzie.

Having changed his mind on retiring at the end of last year, he had seen victory on the European stage as a perfect way to end his career but Nicholls is considering continuing even if he does win.

Nicholls has mooted a 21st successive Cheshire Athletics Championships gold in May and victory in the British Masters Championships in July as targets, although he will decide his future in a couple of weeks.

"I'll get this out of the way and when I get a big weight on my back in my car port again I'll know if the hunger is still there," he said.

"But at the moment I'm enjoying it that much and feel that good that I think, Why pack it in?'.

"I'm enjoying being the Warrington Sports Personality.

"When I start getting beat and can't throw the distances I want to throw, that'll be when to go."