MONTREAL - Pamela Ware considers herself ''unconfident,'' but the 19-year-old diver is close to knocking off a Canadian star in the three-metre springboard.

Ware is neck-and-neck with three-time Olympic medallist Emilie Heymans in the race for the second spot in the three-metre event on the Canadian Olympic team, behind runaway leader Jennifer Abel of Laval, Que.

A strong showing against top international competition at the Tin Bo Travel Canada Cup meet that begins Thursday at Montreal's Olympic pool could move her closer to her goal of making the trip to London.

''I'm probably the most unconfident person ever,'' the Otterburn Park, Que., native said Tuesday.

But that lack of confidence, which comes from reasons only she can explain, is apparently what has spurred a breakout season.

''It seems I don't believe in myself as much as I could," said Ware. ''Everyone tells me that. But I feel if I stay like this it makes me better. If I believe in myself too much, I'll get too high and be disappointed in myself.''

It worked at a World Cup meet in London in February, where she set personal records in the preliminaries, the semifinals and the final to post a fourth-place finish, her best ever in a major international competition. Heymans was 10th.

That heated up the race for points that will help determine which Canadian athletes go to the Games. The divers have the Canada Cup and a meet the following week in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., to amass points, although final placings will be determined at the Canadian Olympic trials May 25-27 in Montreal.

''It would be amazing,'' Ware said of making the Olympic team. ''I'd be the happiest person in the world.

''I'm concentrating on myself now. Each dive after the other. I couldn't even do that before this year -- just doing my dives and not worrying about anyone else.''

Heymans, whose past Olympic success was off the 10-metre tower, has secured a trip to London in the three-metre synchro event with Abel.

But the St. Lambert, Que., diver is aware she is in a battle for a place in the three-metre individual competition. …