Rivals admit they're nearly powerless to stop China dominating diving's world championships

German duo Patrick Hausding and Sascha Klein admit they face a near-mission impossible in their bid to stop China dominating the diving at the world championships, which start on Saturday.

Two years ago in Barcelona, Hausding and Klein won gold in the synchronised 10-metre platform to prevent a Chinese sweep as their divers claimed nine of the 10 world titles on offer.

Chinese divers won six out of eight golds at the London 2012 Olympics and won 10 out of 10 on home soil when the world championships were held in Shanghai four years ago, as well as seven out of eight victories at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

This time around in Kazan, Russia, Chinese divers will again be the ones to beat. Hausding admits the German pair have their work cut out to repeat their gold-medal winning feat when their event takes place tomorrow.

"If you look at things realistically, gold isn't really there for us. Once again, the Chinese would have to do us a favour and slip up," said Hausding.

"Our goal is a medal to be sure of our place for the Olympics."

In Barcelona, the Chinese pair of Cao Yuan and Zhang Yanquan could finish only third and Cao, the 2012 London Olympic 10m platform gold medallist, will be dropping down to compete in the three metres individual and synchronised in Kazan.

"As a former platform diver, it is going to be the first time for me to compete in the springboard at a world championships and I am under a lot of pressure," said the 20-year-old, who started diving aged five.