Australian middle-distance star Peter Bol intends to back in his "brave" tactics in pursuit of Commonwealth Games gold after advancing from a tough 800m heat to the semifinals.
The silver medallist four years ago in Birmingham, Bol produced a strong first-up performance at Glasgow's Scotstoun Stadium on Tuesday.
Bol, 32, stopped the clock at one minute 45.86 seconds to qualify fastest across the four heats.
After finishing fourth at the Tokyo Olympics and fourth again at this year's world indoor championships, Bol is desperate for another major international medal.
But he won't settle for any medal.
"You're always try to go for the win," Bol said.
"If you run safely you'll definitely get a medal. If you run brave you could come fourth or you could win it.
"That's been my strategy over the last few championships and I don't know if I'm going to change it.
"I'd still rather win that gold and run my heart out and try to win than try to just medal."
Fellow Australians Peyton Craig (1:47.17) and Luke Boyes (1:47.37) will also feature in the semi-finals after running third and second respectively in their heats.
Kenya's two-time defending Commonwealth champion Wycliffe Kinyamal (1:46.79) won his heat ahead of England's Birmingham bronze medallist Ben Pattison (1:46.96).
Five-time national champion Bol overcame a rocky start before fighting out a tough finish in his heat, with 0.13secs splitting the top four runners.
"I was expecting them to hold the gun a little bit longer and didn't want to get too excited and go out too early," Bol said.
"I kind of stumbled a little bit at the start, but it's the 800 - you get to make two moves and I made them."
The top four runners in Bol's heat were the four fastest across the four heats.
"I probably looked pretty relaxed out there but it was far from that," Bol said.
"Those first rounds are pretty brutal mentally and going physically, you're just stressing so much.
"We don't get to show it out there but it's probably the hardest round and I'm glad to get that out of the way."
Bol has enjoyed a "perfect" preparation as he seeks to go one better than he did in Birmingham.
"I'm in incredible shape, so I'll never shy away from it - I want to win the final and get that gold medal," he said.
"But it's a hell of a field. There's a bunch of 1:42 guys versus the last Commonwealth Games when there wasn't anyone in the field that was 1:42.
"Now you've got about four or five of us that might be 1:42 runners."
Australia's Reece Holder moved comfortably into the men's 400m semi-finals, easing up towards the end of his heat to stop the clock at 45.63, qualifying second-fastest behind Jamaiza's Zanrion Barnes (45.13).
It was the 2024 Olympic semi-finalist's first race on return from a hamstring injury.
"It was a nice little hit-out," Holder told AAP.
"The time wasn't the best but what can you do in these circumstances? It's all about getting through the rounds."
