KEY POINTS:
For many New Zealanders, the most enduring memory of the 2004 Athens Olympics - and it is hard to accept it was almost four years ago - was the epic Kiwi quinella in the men's triathlon.
Emotions in Greece and New Zealand ran high as Hamish Carter edged away from countryman Bevan Docherty to claim his piece of gold and finally put the demons of the 2000 Sydney Olympics to rest.
Carter has since happily retired as a competitor but is taking an ambassadorial role this time.
But Docherty will be back, toes on the start line in Beijing in his bid to swap silver for gold.
He will be joined in the Chinese capital by Kris Gemmell after both claimed early selection.
The question is who will join them as the third member of what will be a strong New Zealand challenge for glory in a sport which remains in its Olympic infancy but already rates among the most challenging.
While not stirring quite the same emotions as the Mahe Drysdale v Rob Waddell head-to-head, the battle between world No 25 Shane Reed and Terenzo Bozzone - ranked two places back - promises to be tantalising.
Like the struggle on Lake Karapiro, there will be only one winner on Australia's Sunshine Coast tomorrow.
For Reed, whose Oceania Championships win in Wellington this month gave New Zealand the chance of a third Olympic spot, and Bozzone, a former two-time world junior champion, the Mooloolaba race is all or nothing, especially for Reed who at 34 is unlikely to be around next time.
Clark Ellice and James Elvery are also in the mix but will need a huge effort to grab an Olympic ticket.
It is much the same for New Zealand women with Nicky Samuels and Andrea Hewitt battling to snatch the third spot and join Sam Warriner and Debbie Tanner in Beijing.
Hewitt, ranked 15th in the world, goes in as favourite against world No 30 Samuels but this remains a sport with scant regard for numbers. The path to Olympic nomination is clearly defined.
Any New Zealander finishing in the top five in Mooloolaba (and not yet qualified) gains an automatic nomination.
Outside that, it becomes (firstly) the discretion of the Triathlon New Zealand selectors who would then forward their nominations to the New Zealand Olympic Committee for ratification.
