Beijing: The US sprinters aren't used to playing second fiddle at major championships but having been trounced by Jamaica in both the men's and women's 100m finals they will be desperate to bounce back in the relays.
The American men have been the dominant force in their relay in the history of the Olympics, landing it 15 times, while surprisingly Jamaica have yet to win the title and own just one silver.
The Americans will be out for revenge after losing to Britain in the 2004 Games and their pain will only have increased as they could only take a bronze in the individual event here - Olympic debutant Walter Dix finishing way behind Jamaican speed machine Usain Bolt.
The relay will also give America's world champion Tyson Gay the opportunity to at least leave the Games with some form of consolation after the 26-year-old American record holder failed to get past the semi-finals.
Gay is keen to prove that he is still a force to be reckoned with and that only a lack of races over the past month cost him that extra edge to challenge for the Olympic crown.
"I gave of my best, so there is nothing to regret," said Gay, who suffered the hamstring injury in early July at the US trials.
"Now I have the opportunity to set the record straight and show that I am well on the way back to top form. It is also very important for the American team that we bounce back and beat the Jamaicans."
Jamaica for their part look stronger on paper than the Americans with all three of their 100m entrants reaching the final, former world record holder Asafa Powell finishing fifth and 2005 world silver medallist Michael Frater third.
Powell will like Gay be keen to leave with something hanging round his neck as he desperately tries to prove that he is not a choker and can handle the big occasion.
"Like I say why should I consider myself a failure? Okay I ran fifth but that was because while I felt good my legs just weren't on the same wavelength."
"I still ran under 10 seconds which is the barometer of a top class sprinter. Obviously I would have preferred to medal, but I am lucky as I still have a chance here and we are keen to give Jamaica their first ever Olympic title," said the 25-year-old, who is the only man to have run under 9.80sec on five occasions.
The American women have even more to prove after being whitewashed in the 100m final, when they lamely protested that there had been a false start, but will want to make a point to the defending champions.
However, with the Caribbean outfit able to add 2004 Olympic 200m champion Veronica Campbell to their roster - she is defending her title here - they make a formidable unit.
Just Lauryn Williams and Angela Williams remain from the US team of 2004 whose title hopes came to a shuddering halt when former pin-up girl and soon to be disgraced Marion Jones messed up the baton exchange - a symbolic end to her career and now the younger generation will be keen to write a new golden chapter free of her influence.
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