McEwen has green eyes

"I hope it's going to be four [stage victories], but in any case, it's three green jerseys," McEwen told Eurosport after Saturday's time trial. "I'd love to win on the Champs Elysees again."

The Australian won in Paris in 2002 when he also claimed his first green jersey.

"It's a fantastic stage, it's a beautiful finish, and for me it would be just the absolutely perfect way to finish off this Tour de France and get a fourth sage win."

With Floyd Landis' yellow jersey an all but certain outcome after he reclaimed the overall lead from Oscar Pereiro by 59 seconds in the time trial, Sunday's race will focus on who can win one of the most prestigious stages in the sport.

If the flat 154-km stage from Antony (Parc de Sceaux) to the Champs-Elysées comes down to a sprint finish, McEwen will be the major favourite.

The Australian's main sprinting rivals Tom Boonen, Daniele Bennati and Oscar Freire have all retired from the Tour since it entered the Alps, and his biggest remaining challengers are Thor Hushovd and Erik Zabel.

But McEwen isn't counting his chickens just yet.

"It's a very difficult stage to control, because once we hit the Champs Elysees everybody wants to attack and have one last chance try and get a stage win."

"And it's difficult to hold the race together after three weeks. Everybody's dead tired, and that's where a guy like Alexandre Vinokourov got away last year."

But McEwen and his lead-out man Gert Steegmans have dominated all but three mass sprints at this year's Tour: two won by Oscar Freire and one from surprise winner Jimmy Casper.

"This year we'll see, we'll try and hold it together, and if we can, good and then I'll give it everything I have in the sprint."

McEwen promised that his Davitamon team was ready, come what may.

"They're obviously tired like everybody, but pretty good, and they're also really motivated for tomorrow.

"We want to go out on a high and see if we can win the stage so we're ready for tomorrow, and we're still concentrated. You know it's not over yet."