London 2012 champion Tim Baillie is backing David Florence and Richard Hounslow to make significant waves at next month’s Canoe Slalom World Championships in London.

Florence and Harrow’s Hounslow finished runners-up in the C2 category at the London Olympics as Baillie and Etienne Stott took top spot on the podium.

Since then Baillie has hung up his paddle and Stott has forged a new partnership with Mark Proctor.

However, consistent performances from Florence and Hounslow have established their credentials as Britain’s best boat – the pair claiming World Cup bronze in Spain earlier this month.

And Baillie believes the duo are perfectly poised to launch an assault on September’s World Championships at Lee Valley and reclaim the gold they won in 2013.

“I think that they are a pair that has shown that they are the number one boat in Britain at the moment,” said Baillie.

“It’s not a case of maybe because they have been consistent and have been posting the quickest times.

“They will have to be considered as one of the favourite pairs heading in and they will definitely be ones to watch.

“It’s up to them now to perform and to come out and show that they are capable of handling the pressure on the big stage.

“But both are experienced and have competed in huge competitions so I have no doubt that they will be able to keep it going.

“Consistency is the key with this sport and it’s important that the teams are at their best at all times which is a hard thing to do.”

While Proctor and Stott have been developing a new partnership Florence and Hounslow have been honing their skills having been together for some time now.

And Baillie says their consistency epitomises the state of British canoeing at present.

“It’s all about being able to do it day to day and race to race but I think being at home will be huge in that regard,” he added. “I think as a British team we are in a brilliant position and have a lot of strength and David and Richard are right at the forefront of that.

“Hopefully we will see them doing well and putting in the kind of performance that they are capable of.

“They have been together for a long time now so they don’t have to worry about building that chemistry because it’s already there.

“They are a strong pair and they will definitely cause a lot of people problems on a course that they know so well.”

See the world’s top canoe slalom athletes in action on the Olympic course in London at the Canoe Slalom World Championships. Tickets: www.ticketmaster.co.uk/london2015