STRICTLY Come Dancing may be into just its second week but Southampton running star Iwan Thomas is determined he will not face an early exit from the show.

The Olympic silver medallist is the bookies favourite to be the first celebrity to be kicked off the programme.

But he told the Daily Echo that he is praying his strictly experience will not end in the dreaded dance off tomorrow night.

The 41-year-old received just 17 points last week from the judges, putting him second from the bottom bove the BBC weather presenter Carol Kirkwood.

Commonwealth champion Iwan will be performing the Cha-cha-cha to the hit LMFAO song, Sexy and I Know It with his partner Ola Jordan tonight.

And the athlete has admitted he has found training this week difficult.

He said: “Ola has been really patient with me this week because nothing was going in.

“Physically I’m OK but mentally it’s quite hard because I don’t like being rubbish at it.

“I went back home to Southampton and felt really bad but then I came back and it all started to click.”

He also revealed a novel technique he will be using to improve his dancing skills.

“This week I am just going to slow myself into it and I need to find an alter ego so I’m going to be Ricardo this weekend.

“Ricardo is a sexy man and I’m hoping it will help me with this dance.”

But Iwan’s live performance will mean he will miss Southampton FC’s Premier League match away against Chelsea.

And as a Saints season ticket holder, he is gutted to be missing so many matches as training for the show takes up most of his time.

He said: “I am missing my beloved Southampton and I hope people pick up the phone and vote for me to make it all worthwhile.

“I am loving Strictly, I just hope it doesn’t end - I am clearly not the best dancer but I am hoping the public want to see a bit of a journey.”

By Felix Morris