Phelps sets up 100 freestyle showdown with Bousquet

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina (Reuters) - Michael Phelps will end his comeback meet with a 100 meters freestyle showdown against Frenchman Fred Bousquet after winning his preliminary heat at Charlotte UltraSwim Grand Prix on Sunday.

Returning to competition for the first time since his record eight gold medal haul at the Beijing Olympics, Phelps's final event at the four-day meet should provide him with a good fitness gauge following the longest layoff of his career.

Phelps, who has been experimenting with a straight-arm technique, used the new stroke over the final 50 meters and with a late surge powered to the wall first in 49.50 seconds.

The 23-year-old American will be joined in Sunday's final by Bousquet, the 50 freestyle world record holder and Ricky Berens and Cullen Jones who both won relay gold medals in Beijing.

Berens clocked the top time in the final heat with an identical time of 49.50 followed home by fellow American Jones and Bousquet, who also owns the third best time ever over the distance.

"It (the straight-arm stroke) felt a lot better than it did yesterday in the 50, if I feel the same way tonight I will probably do the whole thing," Phelps told reporters.

"If we can perfect this, it is definitely a faster tempo for me and that's something I need in a 100. It definitely takes a lot more out of you but hopefully it will give me that extra speed."

While Phelps has not revealed his program for the 2012 London Olympics, the 100 freestyle is expected to figure prominently in his plans.

Although he rarely competes in it, Phelps already owns the world's ninth best time in the event with only three men, Frenchmen Alain Bernard and Bousquet and Australian Eamon Sullivan having swum faster.

(Editing by Sonia Oxley)