"It's certainly as good a field as I've seen in New Zealand, especially with Kristyl lining up - it will open New Zealanders' eyes to see where they are at and where they need to be to reach the top level," McKenzie said. "The ironwoman is a big focus for me this year, as it's one of the only event I haven't won a national title in yet. I've improved so much over the last year and I'm looking forward to the tough competition."
Organisers are keeping a wary eye on Tropical Cyclone Pam, the remnants of which are expected to hit New Zealand on Sunday, and may juggle the programme to beat the weather.
McKenzie finished 13th in her Kellogg's series debut, a spot ahead of Halligan, although the last time the pair met on Kiwi sand, Halligan won by inches after a sprint up the beach at the Omanu Day of Champions in January.
Miller collected her first big ironwoman title by taking out the Eastern Region title later that same month, while Wannan has also enjoyed a good season after capturing the Mount Monster endurance crown in December.
It's McKenzie who has made the biggest strides in the last year, however, after winning the national board title a year ago. She based herself at the Northcliffe club alongside Smith and a cluster of other Australian stars, working on her swimming and using it to help New Zealand win the world championships in France in September.
Two of her New Zealand teammates also line up as favourites in the ironman ranks, with home-town star and defending champion Cory Taylor (Midway) and two-time winner Max Beattie (Omanu) looming large, although Australian ironman Tanyn Lyndon is likely to push both of them.
Beattie's young Omanu clubmate Ben Cochrane, who trumped his more illustrious training partner at the Omanu Day of Champions, could also feature. Cochrane will also be searching for a third consecutive under-19 ironman title.
The absence of recently-crowned New Zealand 100m champion Kodi Harman has thrown the beach sprint title wide open after the Papamoa flyer won the last four crowns, adding the beach flags title for good measure last year. He pulled his hamstring running the 200m at the New Zealand track and idled championships over the weekend, however, and will miss the surf nationals.
Australian brothers Ben and Sam Mispelhorn will be hard to beat in the sprints this week, although Kiwi veterans Morgan Foster and Paul Cracroft-Wilson have incredible pedigree in both disciplines.
Since 1995, Foster has won an extraordinary 26 national medals across flags and sprints, including 10 flags golds. Cracroft-Wilson won the last of his five flags titles in Gisborne in 2012, though he's also won eight sprint medals.
National K1 1000m kayaking champion Marty McDowell will be searching for his fourth national ski title, while Scott Bicknell - the K1 200m title-holder - is still looking for his first, after filling the minor placings four times. Olympians Darryl Fitzgerald (Waikanae) and Steven Ferguson (Piha) are also touted, while Taylor is also a highly-rated paddler.
A cluster of top female kayakers will also contest the women's ski race, including defending champion Teneale Hatton (Piha), Rachael Dodwell (Mairangi Bay) and Paekakariki's Kayla Imrie, while Olympic swimmers Dean and Steve Kent add a huge dose of class to the Titahi Bay ranks.
