Eilidh Child acknowledges that she is throwing herself in at the deep end when she opens her outdoor season in tonight's Diamond League meeting in Doha.

The 26-year-old faces a high-quality field which includes the American Olympic silver medallist, Lashinda Demus, and the world indoor runner-up, Kaliese Spencer of Jamaica.

It is a first 400 metres hurdles outing for Child since she took fifth place in last August's world championships in Moscow and her first race since helping Great Britain and Northern Ireland to bronze to world indoor relay bronze in Sopot in March.

Yet with plans to chase medal at the Commonwealth Games and European Championships this summer, the Scot is eager to get back into action following an intensive technical stint in Spain. "I usually like a low-key race to open up but I got the chance to race there," she said. "I think it's best to get into the high-quality races as soon as possible."

The Qatar event is the opening stop of the 14-leg Diamond League circuit with Glasgow staging a meeting for the first time at Hampden in July.

Andrew Lemoncello will bid to earn a 10,000m place in the Great Britain team for the European Championships tonight in London at the Highgate Night of the PBs.

The Arizona-based Scot, who has already qualified for the Commonwealths, faces several hopefuls including Andy Vernon in what is the official UK Athletics trial for Zurich.

"I've got to place in the top two and run sub-28.40 to be guaranteed selection so that's the aim," he said.

The in-form Scottish duo of Rhona Auckland and Beth Potter will contest the women's race.