New Zealand's best kayaking talent will be given a major test on home waters this week, with a pair of world-class Australians taking part in the canoe sprint national championship.
Olympic gold medallist Ken Wallace and world surf ski champion Lachlan Tame will again compete on Rotorua's Lake Tikitapu, adding class to an already brimming male line-up, after racing at the event last year.
Reigning New Zealand K1 200m champion Scott Bicknell (Hawke's Bay), Tauranga's Andrew Roy and Marty McDowell (Mana) will be the main challengers to the Australian duo in the shorter distances, with Bicknell relishing the chance to measure his progress over the past 12 months.
"Without starting gates, the best way of finding out how much we've improved is to go head-to-head with these guys and to do it in our own country makes it event more special," Bicknell said.
"The Kiwi paddlers are pretty grateful to Kenny and Lachie for coming over and we aim to repay them by sending them home knowing they've had some fierce racing."