With points to prove, Ross Murdoch will race at the European Swimming Championships tonight with additional fuel on board. It may propel him to fresh heights. Following an Olympic trials in Glasgow last month that left him consumed by under-performance, he is producing evidence to back up his sense that it was an untimely blip.

The 22-year-old from Balloch will get the chance to add to his 100 metres backstroke silver from earlier this week when he goes into the 200m final as favourite after qualifying quickest from last night’s semi-finals in London.

With UK champion Andrew Willis suffering a shock exit in the heats, the Commonwealth gold medallist surged to victory in 2:09.72 with training partner Craig Benson just missing out in ninth overall place. And after losing out to his British rivals for a spot in his favourite event at Rio 2016, Murdoch will seek a certain redemption.

“It’s a bit bittersweet,” he said. “I came into this meeting with a few demons on my back after a few weeks ago. But I had a really good time out there. I would absolutely love to be swimming this in Rio but it’s about who swims it at major meets at the trials. Certainly I believe I’m in the best shape possible to swim it.”

Benson, who edged his Stirling University training partner into third at the trials, was just pipped for a final berth but his best, he claimed, is being saved for the Olympics.

“The heats took a lot more out of me than I thought,” he insisted. “I wanted to get up but I didn’t have anything more. I just did not have that extra gear and I guess that’s from hard training.”

After three days of the championships, the British medal tally now stands at eight after James Guy took bronze in the 200m freestyle and Chloe Tutton landed a surprise bronze in the 100m breaststroke which was won by world record holder Ruta Meilutyte.

Edinburgh hope Dan Wallace was eighth in the 200m medley final but Kathleen Dawson broke the Scottish record twice in one day by following up a sensational swim in the heats by reaching today’s 100m backstroke final with an effort of 59.83 seconds in the semi.

“I’m just glad to have broken the minute,” said the teen, who missed out on Olympic selection. “That was my aim coming in so I’m really happy. I’ve trained hard every session I’m in to make myself better all the time.”

Hannah Miley secured her spot in this evening’s 200m individual medley along side British team-mate Siobhan-Marie O’Connor with the third-fastest time in the semis to land a crack at adding to the 400m silver she landed three days ago.

“I’ll take that,” the Scot said. “It’s one of the events I tend to use as fun. But I have struggled with it.

Olympic trials winner Duncan Scott and Robbie Renwick are set to go in this morning’s 100m free heats with Stephen Milne starting his 800m free bid.