KEY POINTS:
New Zealand's Olympic swimmers take their first dip back into competition at the national summer championships starting in Christchurch on Thursday.
The three-day meet is a litmus test not only for the Olympians but the next echelon to gauge their progress towards next year's goal of qualification for the world championships in Rome.
Former national coach Jan Cameron, who has a new role as general manager, performance and pathways, is looking for improvement from the swimmers who performed in the recent short course World Cup meets.
Cameron said that the Beijing Olympic swimmers will be training through this week.
In contrast, a number of younger swimmers, who will compete in the junior Pan Pacific championships and Australian Youth Olympics next month, will be rested for peak performances this week.
"This week is the first hit out for the Beijing Olympic team and we are not expecting too much from them," Cameron said.
"But it's a chance to see just where they are at and what they have to work on.
"We have a number of our best young swimmers preparing for competition next month who will be looking for good performances this week before they move into taper for the international events."
Southland's Natalie Wiegersma and West Auckland's Michael Jack, both impressive at the World Cup meets, are two swimmers Cameron believes can step up to the next level.
Some exciting battles expected over the championship include the women's sprints where Australian world record holder Marieke Guehrer will provide a huge test for North Shore's Hayley Palmer and Amaka Guessler, who has recently moved from Nelson and Canterbury to be trained by national coach Thomas Ansorg.
The women's 200m backstroke and freestyle will feature the in-form Melissa Ingram, after her outstanding international form in the World Cup series where she finished in the top-10 swimmers overall and set three national records.
She will come up against fellow-Olympian Natasha Hind and North Shore's Penelope Marshall.
The men's sprints will feature the Olympic relay trio of Cameron Gibson, Mark Herring and William Benson.
Orinocco Faamausili-Banse is bypassing the meet in favour of the long course Auckland Championships for his preparation for the junior Pan Pacs.
Aucklander Daniel Bell (West Auckland) will have a further chance to display his wide range of sprint skills, including a battle with legend Dean Kent, who has retired from international competition, over the individual medley.
Moss Burmester will make his return to competition after a layoff.
- NZPA
