The 24-year-old Blade Runner, who had both legs amputated below the knee when he was 11 months old after being born without fibulas, achieved the B-qualification standard for the World Championships after he ran a personal best of 45.61sec in Rustenburg in South Africa last month.

But compatriot Louis van Zyl then ran 44.86 at the Germiston Stadium in Ekurhuleni a few days later, comfortably inside the A-standard of 45.25.

Under IAAF rules, Pistorius will need to run quicker than the A-standard as a country cannot send an athlete on the B-standard if they have another competitor with the faster time.

But Pistorius is undaunted by the challenge.

"It was an amazing feeling to run a personal best of 45.61 seconds and achieve the B-standard qualifying time for the World Championships," he said.

"I never expected to do that so early in the season so it shows that I'm in great shape very early on.

"But I don't look to the past.

"I only look to the future and the goal for me now is to run the A-qualification standard of 45.25 to ensure my place on the start line at the World Championships.

"I still have to come down another 0.3 seconds though so it is going to be quite a tough task.

"The first 200 metres is where I need to really improve my time.

"I need to sharpen up and not be scared and run out hard.

"The better you can get off in the beginning, the better you can find your rhythm."

Pistorius is set to have a busy competition schedule this summer which will see him make his New York City debut at the adidas Grand Prix on June 11 where he is set to compete against the likes of three-time Olympic gold medallist Jeremy Wariner.

"I expect the race in New York to be a challenge with the likes of Jeremy in the field but I am looking forward to it and it could be a great place to try and go under 45.25 seconds if I haven't done so by then," Pistorius said.

"I have no doubt there will be athletes running 44 seconds in New York while my personal best is 45.61 so I think it will be extremely difficult for me to get a podium finish.

"But if this is where I aspire to be I need to run against the best and I would rather come last in an able bodied race and run a great time or personal best rather than win a Paralympic race and run a poor time.

"It can sometimes be difficult being out in front on your own so racing against the best able-bodied runners in the world in New York where I will probably be behind for most of the race may well get me round the track faster and allow me to go under 45.25.

"Running in New York will also be a great honour for me as it has an exceptional history so I'm very excited about racing there."

But Pistorius is already looking forward to next year.

"I want to run the 400 in the Olympics, and the 100, 200, 400 and 4x100 metres relay in the Paralympics," Pistorius said.

"I am sure I will be quiet tired after the 400 in the Olympics but I believe these opportunities only come once in a life."

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