JAMAICAN track coach Stephen Francis says he's glad his superstar sprinter Asafa Powell was beaten for the world 100m title last year.

As Powell indicated he was keen to start at the Melbourne Grand Prix tonight, Francis said he believed the shock of losing would pave the way for his world record holder to win at the Beijing Olympics in August.

"At the time I thought if Asafa goes there (Osaka) and wins, he'll lose at the Olympics because he would believe there are no consequences to the way he prepared (for the world championships)," Francis told The Daily Telegraph.

Powell last night rated himself a 90 per cent likelihood of racing in Melbourne tonight after training pain-free yesterday. He said he would practise his starts an hour before tonight's meet and if he could come out of a crouch without ripping open the wound that required four stitches in his left knee, he would definitely compete.