Swimming: Capp happy to swim below the radar

Tauranga swimmer Nathan Capp is in contention to win the State New Zealand Ocean Swim Series tomorrow. Photo / George Novak

Greerton swimmer Nathan Capp is not concerned with media previews not mentioning him as a contender to take out the State New Zealand Ocean Swim Series on Saturday.

This despite Capp lying second to Rotorua's Kane Radford with just the sixth and final race of the summer series to come in the 2.8km State King of the Bays on Auckland's North Shore.

All the attention is on the Australian swimmers but after a solid week in the pool at the New Zealand Open Swimming Championships in Auckland, Capp is quietly confident he can be in the race for the $10,000 winner's cheque.

"I am doing alright I guess but the whole field is going to be in the frame, really, because it is double points for this last race," Capp said. "But my chances are definitely good - as good as anyone's, I think."

Capp broke the BOP 400m record previously held by Radford this week, with sister Claudia setting a new age 16 BOP record in the 50 freestyle.

He says the nationals have been good preparation for tomorrow although he does expect to be feeling weary after the 1500 metre freestyle final tonight.

"It should be good, I think, although with the 1500 free I could be a little tired from that. I will still give it my best shot."

The series is wide open with the way it is structured. Each race winner is awarded 100 points but points count from just three of the six races, and with double points on offer in the King of the Bays, the final standings are anything but decided.

Capp's main rival other than Radford will be Australian Rhys Mainstone, who lies in sixth place but won the State La Grande Classic in Akaroa and the State Sand To Surf in Mt Maunganui.

He will claim the title with the maximum 400 points if he wins on Saturday.

The women's series is also nicely set up for an exciting finish. Auckland teenager Paige Schendelaar-Kemp is the series leader, but the overwhelming favourite to claim her third straight series is 28-year-old Queenslander Melissa Gorman, who won the State Sand To Surf in Mt Maunganui and in Akaroa.

The 2009 5km open water world champion and two-time Commonwealth Games medallist has been in dominant form despite only recently returning from shoulder surgery.