That is according to Commonwealth Games bowls team manager Paul Ingrouille, who is leading a squad that includes decorated international medallists Jason Greenslade and Ali Merrien, her husband Ian, and Rose Ogier.
Bowls had been the sport to break a 28-year Commonwealths medal drought when Lucy Beere struck silver at Birmingham 2022.
Although Beere is not returning, having made a high-profile withdrawal from selection, Ingrouille is confident the team are up to the task.
‘We have players with great experience of the international stage,’ he said.
‘Medal hopes are very, very realistic.’
The Glasgow 2026 bowls competition will take a very different format to previous editions.
The first to be held indoors, it will also utilise a portable rink, a short format – based on two sets of seven (singles) or five (pairs) ends – a shot clock, and placed jacks rather than thrown.
Ali Merrien’s rich international medals record sets her up well for her first Commonwealths since 2010.
‘It’s a challenge, but hopefully a good one to go for,’ she said.
‘I think we’ve all got medal hopes on the horizon – we want to go out there and win it.’
Greenslade will also be contesting his first Commonwealths in 16 years but has medal history, having achieved a fours bronze with Wales at Manchester 2002, and just two years ago won Guernsey’s own World Bowls Indoor Championships hosting.
The newer arrival represents Guernsey proudly and is thankful to have the opportunity to do so on this stage.
‘I just hope we can both, or the team can medal, just to thank those who put the faith in us.’
Ingrouille, who first managed a Commonwealths team at Auckland 1990, has highlighted that both those two players will have experience playing on a portable rink at Potters.
Yet the format provides very little room for error.
‘It really is a case of being nailed on to the game right from the beginning,’ he said.
‘In what we would call a normal game ... you’ve got three hours to find your feet.
‘But the game will be finished in less than an hour.’
After coming through trials utilising a similar format, the team will step up their preparations with a mid-June test match in Games conditions against England, Scotland and Wales.
‘That will be a very, very good test for them and it’ll be, as I understand it, the England, Scotland and Wales Commonwealth teams just as ours will be,’ Ingrouille added.
‘Hopefully we will all be focused on what’s required come 23 July when it all kicks off.’
