Great Britain's Adam Gemili insists the race for the 100m world title is wide open without Usain Bolt.
The 25-year-old is eager to make his mark ahead of the 100m heats on the opening day of the World Championships in Doha on Friday.
It is the first global championships without Bolt since 2003 after the eight-time Olympic champion's retirement following London 2017.
"For me, as an athlete, he was another person I would try to beat."
But Gemili, who is also running in the 200m, will ignore any controversy surrounding 100m favourite Christian Coleman.
The American, the fastest man in the world this year, can run after initially being charged in August with missing three drugs tests, which he denied.
He was facing a one-year ban but USADA withdrew the charge after guidance from the World Anti-Doping Agency.
"He has been allowed to compete, which as an athlete, we have no real say in anything. We just turn up."
Team-mate and European champion Hughes is fifth favourite for the title behind Coleman, defending champion Justin Gatlin, Andre De Grasse and Yohan Blake.
Hughes, who is also out to defend the 4x100m relay title with Gemili, said: "They're beatable. They've had days where they've been beaten so why not?
"I'm looking to go there and give it my very best. I'm looking to represent the country, myself and my brand.
"That is to go out there and give it my best performance – not let those guys get into my head – and focus on myself and my execution."
Elsewhere, Morgan Lake is in the high jump qualification, Holly Bradshaw competes in the pole vault and Tish Jones and Charlotte Purdue run the women's marathon at midnight local time with temperatures around 33 degrees.
